Longmont Public Safety's Friday Staff Feature

Colorado loves their dogs, and Longmont is no exception! This week Friday Staff Feature from Longmont Public Safety highlights K-9 Officer Brian Macchione and his work with K-9 Delta.

1.) Where are you from, what’s your job, how long have you been doing it?

Officer Brian Macchione grew up on the western slope in Colorado, but attended college at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Brian’s first position as a police officer was with Longmont Police Services, he is currently a K-9 Officer, and has been assigned to that unit for three years. Generally, K-9 officers have the same duties and responsibilities as any other officer; but, because of their K-9 partners, their capabilities are significantly enhanced.

2.) What’s your dog’s name, and age? And what language does she speak and why?

Officer Macchione’s partners name is Delta and she will be two years old in October. Delta is a Belgian Malinois. Although K9 handlers speak with their dogs in English, most of her police commands are in Dutch. The public is generally not aware that police K9’s (Delta) are not treated as family pets. Unlike most family pets, Delta is not permitted to get on the couch or sleep on the bed. She is the happiest, though, when she sees Officer Macchione getting out his police uniform to go to work. Delta then knows that she is also on duty and is without a doubt her favorite thing to do.

3.) Does Delta live at home with the officer?

Officer Macchione is responsible for Delta 24/7, 365 days a year. Delta goes home with him at the end of every day. Right now, Delta is in the process of healing from an injury she sustained recently running an obstacle course at a training exercise. She broke her tibia and fibia on her rear right leg and had to undergo surgery.

5.) What’s the most common misperception about your job?

He says that the most common misperception is that the dog is like a family pet. He said she is still a tool and her training doesn’t end when she gets home. She does not run around the house nor does she bark at squirrels. She still has a very strict regimen to follow at home.

6.) What’s the goal of your job? And what’s the dog’s main purpose.

The job of the officer and the K9 is to keep other officers and the community safe. The dog is a locating tool. She locates people, evidence, or narcotics.

7.) What attracted you to this position? And what does this job mean to you?

Officer Macchione grew up with dogs. So when he knew he wanted to be an officer, he knew he wanted to be part of the K9 Unit. He loves dogs and loves working with dogs. They’ve have been a huge part of his life.

8.) Favorite food of all time?

One of the benefits of working in Longmont is the quality of restaurants in town. Officer Macchione has a favorite fried chicken restaurant, as well as a favorite barbeque place in downtown Longmont. No top notch Longmont restaurant food for Delta, though.