CT DEEP K9 Officer Credited With Apprehending Numerous Poachers Heads To Retirement
HARTFORD, CT — Luna, a recently retired Labrador retriever, will receive the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s “K9 Quilt of Honor” for her years of service in environmental conservation law enforcement, according to a statement from DEEP.
Luna and her partner, Conservation Officer Alexandra Blackwell, will receive the award and public recognition at the Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby, on Thursday, July 30 at 1 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.
According to the department, Luna is highly trained, specializing in the detection of illegally harvested fish and game. In December 2024, she tracked down buried bags containing 34 poached striped bass, resulting in multiple criminal charges and thousands of dollars in fines. She and Blackwell received the 2024 Conservation Officer of the Year Award, and an official citation from the Connecticut General Assembly in 2025. Luna, currently nine years old, will spend her retirement in the Blackwell home. Her successor, K9 Scup, has taken on Luna’s duties of patrolling with Blackwell as part of the CT DEEP Marine District.
The K9 Quilts of Honor program was started with the Indian River County (FL) Sheriffs in 2020 by Carolyn and Rich Bluhm to honor the valued work of retiring K9 officers. Since then, quilts have been awarded to retiring K9s in 16 states and three countries. Each dog is presented with a handmade quilt created by local quilters to acknowledge their service and achievements. The Connecticut presentation will be part of the annual Pop of Color Outdoor Quilt Show hosted at the Kellogg Environmental Center. Luna will be the first dog recognized for Environmental Conservation Law Enforcement.
“Our environmental conservation police and K9 teams play a vital role in protecting Connecticut’s natural resources and the people who enjoy them, whether assisting with search and rescue operations, investigating fish and wildlife crimes, or patrolling our parks, forests, and waterways,” said Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino. “Luna exemplified the dedication and professionalism of our K9 program. Her work, including helping to enforce against poaching of striped bass, helped protect Connecticut’s natural resources for future generations. We are grateful for her years of service and wish her a happy, well-earned retirement.”
Colonel Brian Newman, Director of DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Police, said the department’s K9 teams do an incredible service.
“These highly trained K9 partners help protect both the public and our natural resources,” he said. “Although Luna has retired, we know her successor, Scup, will continue this tradition of excellence.”