Enfield burglary ends with K-9 arrest as department adds robotic dog

A reported active burglary at a residence on Garden Street in Enfield prompted a coordinated response from the department’s Drone and K-9 Unit. Responding officers were called after the homeowner observed a man forcing entry, and surveillance cameras confirmed the intruder moving inside the home. A perimeter was established as part of a careful search plan, and a drone team began clearing each floor of the structure. While the aerial searches were underway, the canine unit was deployed to conduct a ground search through the interior with a trained two-dog approach supporting the operation.

The initial drone sweep cleared several floors, but the intruder was not located by the aerial team. The K-9 handler then activated K-9 Dunkin, a 3-year-old German shepherd, who proceeded to search the building across multiple floors. After Dunkin cleared three floors and a window was observed broken in the basement, officers issued warnings for the suspect to surrender. When no response was heard, Dunkin entered the basement and ultimately located the suspect hiding under construction debris. The suspect was taken into custody without injuries to officers or the subject.

The incident underscored the department’s ongoing use of aerial drones as a life-safety tool while also highlighting indoor limitations. The UAV program has previously supported searches for missing people and vulnerable individuals, and it has helped enhance officer safety. Nevertheless, officers acknowledged that drones face challenges in certain building-entry and indoor scenarios, which prompted the department to pursue additional technology.

In response, the department added a four‑legged robotic drone, commonly referred to as a robotic K‑9 and known by the designation R3KO (a playful nod to a well-known droid naming convention). The robot is described as one of the first of its kind in the state and is designed to augment the UAV/drone lineup. From a distance, the device resembles a small robot; up close, it presents a slender form with visible wires and metal and a camera mounted as an appendage. Its joints allow movements that mimic a dog’s, plus enhanced capabilities beyond a traditional canine, enabling a broader search reach.

The robotic K‑9 can walk, sprint, sit, jump, and even move on two legs. It is designed to navigate stairs and pass through doors or partially closed openings such as curtains. The robot provides officers with real-time visual feeds through its mounted camera and can carry a small payload, such as a cell phone, to initiate communication with someone in a barricaded or hostage situation. In demonstrations, the robot’s head-mounted camera and overall presence are described as enabling meaningful engagement with people in tense situations.

The procurement of R3KO came from existing departmental funds allocated to the UAV program, with the total cost reported in several summaries as roughly $4,700 to just shy of $4,800. The department noted that the cost was intended to be comparable to that of traditional aerial drones and that the robot would extend the reach of the life-safety toolkit, improving officer safety, subject safety, and public safety in complex responses where drones alone may be limited.

The robot’s role is to provide another means of “eyes” in dangerous or obstructed environments. It is controlled by trained officers and can deliver a payload to facilitate communication with individuals in blocks or other active threats. While designed to mimic canine behavior in public-facing ways, the robot’s engineering emphasizes the practical aim of increasing situational awareness in places inaccessible to aerial devices, including tight indoor spaces and behind partially closed obstructions.

The adoption of the robot followed a period of evaluation after previous incidents where drones faced obstacles during critical moments. Department leadership described the purchase as a strategic step to reduce risk and enhance safety. A key theme cited in reviews of the program is the shift from physically clearing every room to leveraging robotic and aerial tools to resolve dangerous situations more safely. The technology’s continued development is framed as part of a broader effort to integrate advanced tools into daily operations while ensuring they complement traditional patrol methods.