Write-up & Photo by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb

The K-9 team of Windsor,Connecticut Officer Steve Vesco and Iko

The Windsor, Connecticut Police Department K-9 team of Officer Steve Vesco and Iko will compete in the upcoming  United States Police Canine Association Region 7 Police Dog 1 field trials, that is being held in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the in the line of duty death of  a Milford, Connecticut officer. The competition is scheduled for April 13, 14 and 15 in Milford, and is being hosted by the Milford Police Department to honor the memory of Milford K-9 officer Daniel Wasson, who died  in the line of duty in April of 1987.

“The hope is that a lot of Connecticut teams will attend, and a number of teams from New York are also expected,” Vesco said.

The three-day competition will include tests in obedience, agility, article search, group box search, criminal apprehension and handler protection with gunfire. The competition will be held rain or shine.

On Saturday, April 14 there will be a public demonstration at Foran High, 80 Foran Road at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free. Weather permitting, the K-9 teams will march onto the high school field in a parade like procession. Vesco noted it is also hoped there will be a strong public turnout. Following the demonstration, he said, there will be a chance to meet some of the police dogs.

The weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the “in the line of duty death” of then 25-year-old Milford, Connecticut Police Officer Daniel “Danny” Scott Wasson. According to a notice about the event, in the early morning hours of Sunday April 12, 1987, Officer Wasson was on patrol with his K-9 partner ‘General’ and radioed dispatch that he was conducting a motor vehicle stop along Boston Post Road near the Orange town line. It was a stop which proved to be fatal for the young officer.

“During the course of the motor vehicle stop Officer Wasson was fatally shot by the vehicle’s operator. Officer Wasson was found at 2:45 hours lying on the side of the road with a single gunshot wound to the chest from a .44 magnum. Officer Wasson was pronounced dead at Yale New Haven Hospital shortly after 03:00 hours.”

K-9 teams interested in participating in the event can register by going to http://www.uspca7.org. Registration should be completed before April 10. There are no fees for Region 7 members. For non Region 7 members the fee is $40.00

For more information contact Officer Matt Lima at mlima@ci.milford.ct.us