Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina gathered at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge on Thursday, September 18th, to welcome the newest member of local law enforcement—a black Labrador Retriever named Hamilton.
Hamilton is the Suffolk County Police Department’s first therapy dog to receive his own police badge. Trained through the Paws Behind Bars program by an inmate in an upstate prison, Hamilton was later paired with his permanent handler, Officer George Politis. Together, they will focus on promoting wellness among officers and building community relationships.
“Hamilton isn’t here to chase criminals,” Romaine said. “He’s here to provide comfort to our officers. Pets help us—and that’s important.”
Commissioner Catalina praised the Paws Behind Bars initiative, which trains therapy dogs from a young age for 6 to 8 months before assigning them to service.
He emphasized that Hamilton’s role is about emotional support, especially for officers coping with the stress and trauma that come with the job.
Catalina also praised Officer Politis, a 30-year police veteran and outspoken union delegate known for organizing morale-boosting events like basketball and cornhole games. “It’s a skill you can’t teach,’ Catalina said. “And he’s got it.”
He added that while Hamilton is a special dog, it takes a handler with trust and respect in the department to make the partnership effective. “Everything I thought Politis was—he is,” Catalina said.
Hamilton will serve as an emotional outlet for officers burdened by the pressures of their work, especially in tough times. “Police officers have to live with what they see,” Catalina noted. “But when you’ve had a bad day and see a dog, it always brings a smile to your face.”
Suffolk County hopes Hamilton’s presence will reduce officer burnout and suicide risk, improving overall well-being across the force.
For SCPD, Hamilton is more than a dog—he’s a much-needed source of hope and healing.