Partners: K9 Officers Aguiar and Edo

Rehoboth Police Officer David Aguiar and canine partner Edo has been a regular fixture at the schools, bringing some comfort to students at Palmer River Elementary and Beckwith Middle.

Aguilar grew up in Rehoboth and attended both schools.

“K9 Edo has become so loved and welcomed at the schools that when we visit Palmer River’s cafeteria, the kids will all start to chant “Edo! Edo! Edo!,” Aguiar told the Reporter.

Aguiar and Edo were recently honored at a Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee meeting by Superintendent Bill Runey.

While at the meeting, Aguiar and Edo donated two custom books to the Palmer River library – one is a children’s book titled “When A K9 Goes to Work” and the other was “Barking Up The Right Tree, An Adventure in Sniffing Out Trouble at Palmer River Elementary.”

“When I was a student and walked the halls (of the schools), I always felt safe,” Aguiar explained. Besides protecting our residents and the Town of Rehoboth, our mission is to make all students and faculty feel safe as they walk the hallways and learn in a safe environment.”

Aguiar became a Reserve Officer in 2015 and was promoted to full-time Patrolman in 2016. Aguiar and Edo were paired up in May 2021 when then Chief James Trombetta offered Aguiar the position of K9 Handler.

They both attended the Rhode Island Police Canine Academy, where they learned and conducted basic obedience, as well as basic emergency medical care for police canines.

“After K9, Edo had passed all skills and was certified by APCA (American Police Canine Association), we then returned to patrol duties for six months which K9 Edo was in a patrol canine only capacity,” Aguiar said.

The pair are a part of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Detection Unit as an EOD Canine Support. Aguiar and Edo had assisted them every year with two major events –the Boston Marathon and July 4^th Harborfest on the Esplanade. In addition, Aguiar and Edo are called to assist on any bomb threats being handled by the MSP. The pair support local and surrounding police departments on search warrants for firearms and ammunition.

A recent mutual aid request came from the Taunton Police Department.

“They needed help with executing a search warrant with the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) Safe Streets Task Force to locate a firearm,” Aguiar said. “Within 20 minutes, K9 Edo successfully located a hidden loaded firearm, which made it possible for the FBI SSTF Agents to conduct an arrest.”

The Rehoboth K-9 Unit has a private account managed by the town, which accepts the donations and disperses the funds for annual medical checkups, unexpected emergencies, canine food/treats, and Police canine equipment.

“We are humbled to hold this position in town, in which I hold ourselves to the highest standards,” Aguiar added.