NAHANT— On Friday evening, the town of Nahant gathered to show support for their police department as they hosted a fundraiser for their first K-9 addition, Zibit.
Police Chief Timothy Furlong said the department was able to secure the dog through initial grant funding.
“Up front, we got the dog and other expenses paid for on a grant. It’s called the Stanton Foundation Grant,” Furlong explained. “That only funds the dog up to a certain amount. After that, the rest is on us to pay for everything, including vet bills, food, (and) any unexpected expenditures with the dog.”
To cover those ongoing costs, the department organized the fundraiser and plans to continue holding events to build a financial cushion. “So this is why we’re doing this event and other events along the way. So we have money…in the bank,” he said, noting that K-9 units can face unpredictable and sometimes dangerous situations.
Furlong referenced a past incident elsewhere in Massachusetts in which a police dog was shot during a search warrant operation, underscoring the risks K-9s take. “They get put in crazy situations, so we just have to have… money too, to handle anything that comes our way,” he said.
The chief described the community response as overwhelmingly positive. “I can’t believe the overwhelming support that we’ve gotten for this program. Nahant is a dog community, so I figured it would be an easy sell. Definitely. It’s not a cheap one.”
Though this is the department’s first fully certified K-9, Furlong noted there had been an earlier attempt. “We did get a dog. Yes. Her name was Solo. She did not make it through the academy. We had to, unfortunately, replace Solo with Zibit.” According to Furlong, Zibit excelled in training and “nailed everything, and first time out, no remedials.”
Zibit’s handler, Officer Conner Robertson, called the process transformative.
“It’s been an experience,” Robertson said. The pair trained through the Boston Police Academy system at sites across the state, working on tracking and apprehension skills. He emphasized that the job involves far more than bite work. “Not just the bite stuff. Everyone sees a dog, it does a lot of stuff that can be used to find somebody and not bite.”
Robertson said the K-9 has already assisted neighboring communities, including Lynn and Swampscott, and will eventually join a regional law enforcement collaborative to provide mutual aid across county lines.
“There are times when I’m the only guy on the road, and fortunately I don’t have any worries because if I can’t figure it out, then at least I have something with me that can have another tool,” he said, adding, “With that being said, we do it with responsibility and that’s 100%.”
Beyond emergency response, Robertson believes the addition modernizes and strengthens the department. “But the addition, I think it just propels us forward,” he said. “So, we have the dog, we have the drone unit. We have different aspects of our post department that other cities, even cities, don’t have… So it kind of makes us attractive in this day and age.”
Select Board Chairman Robert Tibbo said town officials had no hesitation supporting the initiative.
“No apprehension in the least,” Tibbo said. He called the K-9 program “comparatively speaking, an inexpensive, a less expensive way of getting additional protection and safety on the street,” especially for officers who often patrol alone.
Tibbo also highlighted the community aspect of the program, from school visits to public demonstrations. “I love the aspect, as far as bringing them, bringing the dog into the court, to see the children in the school, and letting them get to know our new police dog,” he said. “Anything, any opportunity that we have as far as bringing our first responders out from their work day, and getting them further into the community, on a casual and relaxed basis. I think it’s a great opportunity.”
Rather than placing the full financial burden on the police department’s budget, Tibbo said the fundraiser reflects shared investment. “I love the fact that the community has come together, not only to fund this, but to celebrate it,” he said.
As officers mingled with residents, Robertson’s family stood nearby, offering hugs, snapping photos, and cheering him on as he demonstrated Zibit’s discipline and responsiveness. Their presence underscored the personal commitment behind the badge — and behind the leash.
While Zibit may serve the broader region, he is also, as Furlong put it, Robertson’s “partner. It’s his partner. It’s his baby, it’s his everything.”
With strong municipal backing, regional potential, and visible community enthusiasm, town leaders say the K-9 program represents both added protection and a point of pride — one built not only on training and tactics, but on collective support.
