Scarsdale's police facility dog, a white Labrador retriever named Sushi, was among several therapy dogs from neighboring departments deployed to comfort students and staff after a tragic incident at a Yonkers school.

The multi-agency response, which also included facility dogs from Tuckahoe, Greenburgh and White Plains, helped inspire Yonkers to launch its own program, according to Yonkers Times reporting published Thursday, Aug. 6. The Yonkers Police Department held a ceremonial swearing-in of its first two facility dogs, K9 Nilsen and K9 Gator, on Thursday.

For Scarsdale, the deployment marked a real-world test of a program Chief Steven DelBene first envisioned in 2022, when he attended the FBI National Academy as a lieutenant and learned about the therapeutic impact of facility dogs on officers and communities.

How Sushi came to Scarsdale

Sushi officially joined the Scarsdale Police Department on Oct. 9, 2024, under the care of her handler, Detective Justin Wilder, the department's IT detective selected for his rapport with colleagues and ability to provide full-time care.

The nonprofit Puppies Behind Bars donated Sushi at no cost, and the Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved the initiative.

Mayor Justin Arest ceremonially swore Sushi in during the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2024. She raised her paw.

The New York State Department of Health awarded the department a two-year grant of $30,000 annually for a broader wellness program that also covers Sushi's veterinary care and supplies.

Not a patrol dog

Unlike traditional K-9 units, Sushi is trained exclusively for emotional support. She assists crime victims during interviews, comforts traumatized children, supports officers after critical incidents and appears at community outreach events and school visits.

In the Village of Scarsdale's official profile of the program, then-Lt. DelBene said in late 2024: "She puts smiles on people's faces. That's it."

A facility dog in neighboring Tuckahoe recently helped a young child open up during a court case, according to the same Scarsdale government page, illustrating how the programs extend beyond routine policing.

Regional momentum

Yonkers' two new dogs were also trained through Puppies Behind Bars at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York, and provided at no cost. K9 Nilsen will partner with Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza; K9 Gator will work with Officer Genesis Vasquez in the Domestic Violence Unit.

With Scarsdale, Tuckahoe, Greenburgh, White Plains and now Yonkers all operating facility dog programs, southern Westchester has built a regional network of departments that can deploy emotional-support dogs to assist one another during crises. Residents can follow Sushi's community appearances on Instagram at @k9_sushi_spd.