He was a universally beloved member of the Bayonne Police Department; hardworking, fun loving, and always willing to serve. He was Bayonne Police Officer Gene Urbanowicz’s only partner for eight years, and one that Urbanowicz entrusted his life to each time they worked together.
He was Willy, 11, Bayonne’s first police dog, and he died without much fanfare on April 22. But those who knew of him understand just how much he meant to the department, the citizens of Bayonne, and beyond.
Sworn in on Feb. 1, 2005, Willy had an illustrious career with the Bayonne Police Department, retiring July 31, 2013 with many accolades.
The brainchild of then Police Chief Robert Kubert, now public safety director, the city’s canine program was in its infancy when Urbanowicz was charged with traveling to a Florida kennel and picking a Labrador retriever to train with in bomb-detection efforts.
During their two-week indoctrination period, Urbanowicz and Willy forged a bond, taking to each other immediately. Then it was back north for three and a half months of explosion- detection training together through the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Their training served the partners well, because in an age of terrorism they were called in to check for explosives dozens of times, both in Bayonne and throughout the New York metropolitan area.
They assisted the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Park Police, U.S. Coast Guard, Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, and Jersey City Police Department.
There were many scary times together, but thankfully the duo never found a bomb.
“One of the mantras of canine work is the slogan ‘trust your dog,’” Urbanowicz said. “That’s all you really have to go on. You’re counting on him recognizing something wrong and you noticing if he’s not acting right.”
When the Barclays golf tournament was held at the Liberty National course in Jersey City in 2009, Urbanowicz and Willy were on duty. When the Bayonne Golf Club opened and President Bill Clinton visited, the cop and his pooch were once again called into service.
“He was just an asset to the department.” – Gene Urbanowicz
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“We had to check on all the equipment that the media was using,” Urbanowicz said. “That was our job there. Checking all the cameras, camera cases, bags. That was all our responsibility.”
In 2011, the pair was called out to an emergency situation in Hoboken. An arsonist was on the loose, having set fire to an electrical panel and rooms on the Stevens Tech campus.
“They just didn’t know if there were any secondary devices or booby traps he might have planted, so they called us in,” Urbanowicz said. “We had to search all the dorms. We had to search the whole campus.”
In 2006, when Bayonne’s “Teardrop” monument against terrorism was dedicated at the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor, the city’s canine team was, of course, working the event.
But possibly the highlight of Willy’s career in law enforcement came in July 2010, when the short-handed park police at Ellis Island called in Bayonne’s team when they received a bomb threat at the Statue of Liberty. Urbanowicz and Willy were picked up by boat and brought to the island to check for explosive devices. For that assignment, Bayonne’s canine unit received a written thank you from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Willy received many other accolades, including a citation from the New Jersey General Assembly in 2010, and many local ones.
Leaving a legacy
Willy’s legacy will not only include his many assignments but also his work ethic, demeanor, and the joy he brought to the lives of many.
“He was a great dog; no problems, he got along with kids, and he was always eager to go to work,” Urbanowicz said. “I can’t count all the times in schools the kids would go nuts for him.”
Urbanowicz, 41, a 13-year veteran of the department, has since paired with another dog, Rocco, a drug-patrol partner, but will never forget Willy.
Whether it was sniffing for explosives, making children laugh, or chasing empty water bottles thrown for fun by other police officers, Bayonne’s first police dog will always be remembered.
“He was just an asset to the department; everyone looked forward to seeing him,” Urbanowicz said. “He put a smile on the officers’ faces. He just had an impact on the department. Every day we miss him.”
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.To comment on this story online visit www.hudsonreporter.com.