Hartford Police Department Welcomes First Bloodhound K-9 Team

Officer Chelsea Negron and K-9 Killian pass national certification, ready to assist in missing persons cases and suspect tracking.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Hartford Police Department has announced the arrival of its first certified bloodhound K-9 team. Officer Chelsea Negron and her 1-year-old partner, Killian, recently passed testing through the North American Police Work Dog Association, making them deployable for missing persons cases and suspect tracking in the city.

Why it matters

The addition of a bloodhound K-9 team is a significant milestone for the Hartford Police Department's K-9 program, providing specialized capabilities in search and rescue operations as well as criminal investigations. Bloodhounds are known for their exceptional scent-tracking abilities, which can be crucial in locating missing individuals or apprehending suspects.

The details

Killian, the bloodhound, is trained specifically in scent discrimination and trailing. The certification process included two teams, with Fairfield Police Department K-9 Officer Tony Renaldi and his partner, Penny, also completing the training alongside Negron and Killian. With the certification complete, the new bloodhound team is now available for active deployment in Hartford.

  • Killian recently turned 1 year old, reaching certification shortly after his birthday.
  • The certification class took place in February 2026.

The players

Officer Chelsea Negron

A Hartford Police Department officer who has been paired with the department's first certified bloodhound K-9, Killian.

Killian

A 1-year-old bloodhound K-9 who has been certified in trailing and scent discrimination, and is now available for deployment in Hartford.

K-9 Officer Tony Renaldi

A Fairfield Police Department officer who completed the certification training alongside Negron and Killian with his partner, Penny.

Penny

The K-9 partner of Fairfield Police Department Officer Tony Renaldi, who also completed the certification training.

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What they’re saying

“The addition of a bloodhound K-9 team is a significant milestone for the Hartford Police Department's K-9 program, providing specialized capabilities in search and rescue operations as well as criminal investigations.”

— Hartford Police Department (patch.com)

What’s next

With the certification complete, the new bloodhound team is now available for active deployment in Hartford.

The takeaway

The Hartford Police Department's new bloodhound K-9 team, led by Officer Chelsea Negron and Killian, represents an important enhancement to the department's capabilities in missing persons cases and suspect tracking, leveraging the exceptional scent-tracking abilities of bloodhounds.