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On Friday afternoon, officers from the Yonkers Police Department were dispatched to a home in the 2nd Precinct following reports of a family member that was potentially suicidal, after he threatened to hurt himself and fled to an unknown location.
According to Yonkers Police Det. Lt. Patrick McCormack, multiple units canvassed the area, but the missing person could not be located, prompting officers to alert the K-9 Unit.
Police turned to the department’s first bloodhound, Cali, and her partner, Officer Robert Ascolillo, although the pup is just 18-months-old and still two weeks away from graduation from K-9 School.
Ascolillo was able to ascertain an article of clothing from the missing person, and Cali was able to track the scent south on Central Park Avenue by Parkway North near Van Cortlandt Park near the Yonkers-Bronx city line.
Cali eventually tracked the scent to a heavily wooded area, straight to the missing man, who reportedly appeared to be hiding. He was ultimately taken to the hospital, where he remains under treatment.
On Monday, Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner met with Cali and Ascolillo to thank them for their service and good work on Friday.
“We are excited about the addition of Cali to our patrol force,” he said. “Her presence has already made a difference to help one of our residents in a time of crisis.”
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