Welcome New K9, Frank, Thanks to Mass-Vest-a-Dog Grant

Published on July 23, 2025

West Springfield, MA:The West Springfield Police Department is proud to announce the newest addition to its ranks, K9 Frank. Following the retirement of K9 Rado, the Town was fortunate to receive a grant from Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog, a partner that has been instrumental to the success of the K9 program.

K9 Frank is an 18-month-old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix from Slovakia. His handler, Officer John McCarthy, has successfully transitioned into training his new partner, with the pair recently completing a 16-week initial training with the Hampden County Sheriff's Office. Officer McCarthy and K9 Frank have also been nationally certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA).

Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog is an independent, all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing essential support for police dogs throughout Massachusetts. Inspired by the tragic death of K-9 Cero in the line of duty on March 25, 2000, the organization is dedicated to providing bulletproof K-9 vests, essential equipment, and funding for training and police dogs. Thanks to the tireless work of their volunteers and the generosity of their donors, MA Vest-a-Dog has proudly provided over 700 vests to K-9s across the state. The West Springfield Police Department is incredibly thankful for their contributions to the department and the entire community.

K9 Frank will serve a dual purpose on patrol, specializing in tracking, evidence and area searches, building searches, and suspect apprehension. He is also trained to detect illegal substances, including heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

The Town of West Springfield extends its warmest welcome to K9 Frank and wishes him and Officer McCarthy a happy and healthy partnership serving the West Springfield community.

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