Provided

Officer Kevin Noterfonzo and K-9 partner Reggie.

Cornell University Police Officer Kevin Noterfonzo received the Kiwanis Ithaca-Cayuga Club's Frank G. Hammer Officer of the Month Award, March 19, for his expansion of the Cornell Police K-9 Unit. Through Noterfonzo's efforts, his canine partner, Reggie, a rescued Labrador retriever, and he have become a certified human tracking team for missing persons and a federally certified Explosive Detection K-9 team.

"Noterfonzo and K-9 Reggie are ambassadors for Cornell Police and the community," said Acting Deputy Chief Jeffery Montesano, who preceded Noterfonzo as canine handler. Noterfonzo provides many demonstrations to the community, from young children to adults, he said, and is known for his "ongoing commitment to continually reaching out to the community in a positive way," Montesano said.

Noterfonzo, Montesano said, has evolved with K-9 Reggie from being a new handler and inexperienced canine to a well-seasoned professional K-9 team.

In February 2011, Noterfonzo went even further to professionalize the team by obtaining his New York State Explosive Detection K-9 Maintenance Trainer certification, allowing him to assist in training current and new explosive K-9 teams, along with signing New York state training records.

Chief of Police Kathy Zoner said, "We are very proud of Kevin and Reggie for their contributions, not only to our immediate community, but to Tompkins and the surrounding counties as well. We are pleased that Kiwanis provides this excellent forum to recognize the outstanding efforts of law enforcement officers."