Officer Dave Peterson -  President

Officer David Peterson of the Norwalk Police Department has worked with the Norwalk Police Department since 2005.  He has been a member of CPWDA and NAPWDA since 2010, NPCA since 2011 and NNDDA since 2020. Officer Peterson has been  a member of the Norwalk Police K-9 Unit since 2007.  He began working with the Canine Unit as the Unit’s Decoy and Assistant Trainer, under Sergeant Frank Reda. In March of 2012, He began working with Superior K9 Services with the development of green dogs and brand new handlers.  He has conducted several K-9 Instructor Courses, that are devised of 10 weeks and 400 hours. These classes are focused on the development of dogs and their handlers, in the area of Detection, Tracking, and Patrol. He has assisted in training over 40 dogs, all of which are now certified in either Patrol and Narcotics or Explosives.  He presently leads the Southwest Region 7 bi-annual, monthly training. These trainings consists of over 20 dogs and involved as a trainer for several CPWDA events over the past several years. Officer Peterson’s current partner is a 3 year old, all Black German Shepherd, Nova. PSD Nova is certified in Narcotics, Tracking, Patrol and has been serving with the Norwalk Police Department for 2 years.  Officer David Peterson first partner, PSD Rainor (retired) were the 1st runners up for the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K9 award in 2014.  Officer David Peterson and PSD Rainor were also selected by FLEOA for “K-9 Heroes” of 2014, where they were honored inside Fenway Park.  PSD Rainor served for the Norwalk Police Department for 9 years before retirement. Officer Peterson was elected to the CPWDA Executive Board in 2017.  Officer David Peterson is a Certifying Official with NPCA, NNDDA and CPWDA certifying over 50 Teams Bi-annually for Detection, Tracking and Patrol. Officer Peterson was elected as C.P.W.D.A. Vice-President in 2017 and  was then elected as President of the C.P.W.D.A. in 2024.

Sergeant Todd M. Mona - North East Vice-President 

Sergeant Mona began his career as an officer with the East Hartford Police Department in 2002 and became a handler in 2006.  Mona attended the Connecticut State Police Canine Academy with his first partner, K9 Primo.  During their time together they achieved approximately one hundred fifty finds on tracks, area searches and building searches including fifty one contact apprehensions from 2006 through 2015.  K9 Primo also won top obedience, top criminal apprehension and first place overall in the Connecticut Police K9 Olympics over the years.  The K9 team is also a three time Daniel Wasson Memorial Award winner which is awarded to the most productive dangerous K9 call of the year throughout the state of Connecticut.  K9 Primo was also stabbed in the head and back, required multiple surgeries and returned to full duty.   During this incident Mona was also shot and required emergency surgery and months of rehabilitation and unfortunately had to fire upon and put down the suspect.  Mona was also involved in two other officer involved shootings and was able to get a contact apprehension with the dog.In 2014 Mona was requested by several Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Trainers and North American Police Work Dog Association Trainers, due to having highly productive career with Primo, to take the CPWDA Maintenance Trainer test.  After a written and oral test, Mona began conducting maintenance training for the East Hartford K9 Unit and several other agencies.  In 2015 Mona held his first K9 patrol school called the ‘Capital Region K9 Academy’.  After completing this class Mona conducted a second class in 2016 and shortly thereafter began to log hours towards his NAPWDA trainer. Mona bred and raised his second K9 partner, Casus Belli from ten weeks old and is currently still working him.  Casus has also won numerous awards including top team obedience twice and top team tactical obedience at the Connecticut Police K9 Olympics, second place at the Cabela’s Police K9 competition, second place twice and first place at the Dreamride Police K9 Challenge.  In 2022 Casus also won top team obedience at the United States Police Canine Association Trails.  Casus also is a three time Daniel Wasson Memorial Award Casus has approximately one hundred twenty non contact apprehensions through tracks, building searches and area searches and thirty four contact apprehensions two of which were for murder.  In 2018 Casus was cross trained by Mona in firearm detection and he has recovered twenty one firearms including two that were buried. Mona was selected as a member of the POSTC ‘Use of Force’ Sub Committee for the new statewide U.O.F policy after CT’s Police Accountability Act in 2021.  Mona was elected Vice President of CPWDA in 2021 and he tested and obtained his North American Police Work Dog Association Trainer certificate in 2022. Mona tested and was promoted to Sergeant with EHPD in April of 2023.  Mona is the instructor for the Capital Region K9 Training Group maintenance training and is responsible for approximately thirty five K9 teams.  Mona also instructs at a national level at different seminars, workshops and conferences.  Mona is currently preparing for his NAPWDA Master Trainer test and conducts dual purpose patrol classes yearly through his agency (East Hartford Police K9 Academy).  Mona recently raised his new K9 partner ‘Scorso’ from eight weeks old and graduated from the 2024 East Hartford Police K9 Academy.  Scorso was the fourth patrol dog Mona either raised himself or helped raised for surrounding agencies that are in use today. Sergeant Mona was elected as C.P.W.D.A  North East Vice-President in 2021.

Corporal James Loomer - Secretary