PAWTUCKET – The Pawtucket Police Department has officially welcomed a new four-legged member to the squad: K9 Kaya.

Kaya is a 2-year-old German shorthaired pointer specifically trained in explosive and firearms detection.

Her training began in April, and by summer, Kaya and her handler, Sgt. William Figura, were a fully deployable team, certified in explosive and firearm detection through the North American Police Work Dog Association.

Detective Sgt. Trevor Lefebvre of PPD’s K9 Unit said that typically, German shepherds or Belgian Malinois are most commonly used as police dogs, however German shorthaired pointers, such as Kaya, are gaining popularity in the field.

“Their high energy levels and friendly nature make them well-suited for detection work,” he said. “The nearest other police

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