Watertown Police Department Expands Support Services with Facility Dog Wyatt

WATERTOWN, MA –The Watertown Police Department has officially welcomed a new four-legged officer to the force, but his job isn’t about law enforcement—it’s about comfort. Wyatt, a two-year-old trained facility dog, has joined the department to provide emotional support to officers, city employees, and the community.

Wyatt is partnered with Officer Kyle Rooney, an eight-year veteran of the department, who will serve as his handler.

Wyatt comes to Watertown from Guide Dogs of America, a nonprofit that specializes in training service dogs. His extensive training journey took him from a puppy raiser in Indiana to a specialized program in a California state prison, where he learned 48 different cues and skills. He’s trained in depression therapy and even has the ability to sense when someone needs comfort.

Wyatt isn’t the department’s first therapy dog—he joins Raider, who has been working with students and community members since last summer. The two dogs became fast friends, meeting at the station and bonding instantly. They’ve already worked together at community events, including the recent Polar Plunge, and will continue teaming up to provide comfort across Watertown.

While Raider works primarily during the day, Wyatt will be on patrol in the afternoons and evenings, ensuring that a comfort dog is available to the community from morning through midnight.

Wyatt and Officer Rooney will soon have their own cruiser to help them move around town more efficiently. So if you spot Wyatt on patrol, don’t hesitate to say hello—he might even offer you a fist bump.

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