NORWICH – After receiving a donation from a private citizen and from Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, the Norwich City Police Department will be welcoming a drug detection K-9 unit into its ranks later this year.

Police Chief Joseph Angelino announced last week that Officer Brandon Clarke and his new K-9 partner, “Weeks,” would be heading to Pennsylvania for six weeks of drug detection training on Sept. 8.

Earlier this summer, P&G presented a check to Norwich City Mayor Joseph P. Maiurano and the chief for $20,000 for the cost of unit’s training and equipment. Former Norwich resident Judy Weeks purchased the purebred German Shepherd for the department, estimated to cost over $5,000.

Angelino said the PD had applied for grants in the past to obtain funds for a K-9 unit, but failed. He credited the mayor for contacting P&G and helping to orchestrate their donation.

P&G is in the process relocating its operation out of the area and in its gratitude for the Norwich community, officials began looking around for possible contributions earlier this year.

Maiurano, who was aware of the department’s rejected application and desire for a K-9, contacted P&G to see if they were willing to help.

“I just thought there was an opportunity to obtain a vital tool for the police department that we weren’t having any luck getting any other way,” said the mayor. “The city tries to make sure that the PD has the tools it needs. Our goals are based on keeping the community and the officers safe so we can make our home an even better place to live.”

Judy Weeks purchased the dog and donated him to the PD in the hopes that her family’s contributions to local law enforcement would be remembered. The dog was named “Weeks” as tribute to her late husband and father-in-law.

“I wanted to honor the service of my late husband Norm and my father-in-law Ralph for their contributions to the police department,” she said.

Officer Norm Weeks served the Norwich Police for several years in the 1970s before transferring to the New York State Department of Conservation. Sgt. Ralph Weeks served from 1941 to 1976 before retiring.

Judy said she wanted to do something for the men and women of the police department and after considering a number of other options with the chief, she came up with the K-9 idea.