The Results Are In: Officer ‘Sully’ to Report For Duty Later This Year

Proponents for Goose hoped to pair it with Maverick to reference the main characters in Tony Scott’s hit 1986 action movie “Top Gun,” about a cocky naval aviator named Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (played by Tom Cruise) and flight partner Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards).

Chase said that the officers, regrettably, didn’t document the coin-toss. But he assured The Eagle Times that the outcome of the coin toss was not influenced.

“I was hoping for Goose,” Chase said. “So if it was fixed, it would have been Goose.”

Sully, whose name is a nod to John Sullivan, an American Revolution war hero and former New Hampshire governor, as well as the county the city is located within, will be handled primarily by Claremont Detective Margaret Barry and School Resource Officer Krystal Simonds. The dog will live with Barry when off-duty.

Barry said she will meet Sully for the first time on Wednesday, when she visits the pup at Hero Pups, a non-profit rescue dog program in Stratham, N.H.

Hero Pups is a volunteer-run organization that acquires and trains rescue puppies to be support-dogs for veterans and first responders dealing with trauma (PTSD), anxiety and service-related issues. Each year, Hero Pups awards three to four police departments with a support-dog for the community.

“We cannot praise them enough,” Chase said about Hero Pups. “They are a great organization.”

The Claremont Police Department pays Hero Pups for training and reimbursement for Sully’s living expenses to date. Chase said the department is funding the training and reimbursement costs entirely with donations. Once Sully becomes part of the Claremont Department, part of the department’s annual budget will cover Sully’s care, such as food and veterinary needs.

Barry said that she will participate in a series of training sessions with Sully prior to his joining the department. Training for support-dogs includes teaching the pup comforting techniques and acclimating the animal to being around crowds.

In addition to live-streaming the name reveal, the Claremont Police Department held a live K9 demonstration with Maverick and his handler, Sgt. Tyler Petrin. Petrin had Maverick demonstrate how he follows verbal commands, finds hidden drug samples and attacks on command — with assistance of Officer Christopher Allen, wearing a protective sleeve.

The stream, which had 130 live viewers, is available for viewing on the Claremont Police Department’s Facebook page.

Chase said the purpose for the K9 demonstration was to help families take their minds off the events relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current stay-at-home order.