An award honoring the memory of the late Steve Ketchum, a retired Newtown police officer who died in March, has been added as a feature of the 2nd Annual Western Connecticut Police K-9 Challenge scheduled for this weekend at The Governor's Horse Guard at Fairfield Hills.

The public event is expected to attract about a dozen competing police dog units. The fundraiser, which will benefit the horse guard, is slated to start at 10 am on Saturday, October 8, at 4 Wildlife Drive. An awards ceremony scheduled for 3 pm will conclude the event. A $5 donation for parking is requested by its organizers.

Police Officer Felicia Figol, the Newtown Police Department's K-9 officer who handles the German shepherd, Saint, said this week the committee that organizes the annual dog competition decided to create an annual award to honor Mr Ketchum.

Mr Ketchum had served in many roles at the police department, including a firearms instructor, bicycle officer, school resource officer, traffic unit member, deputy fire marshal, and a motorcycle officer.

The well-regarded Mr Ketchum, who joined the police department in 1989, retired as a police officer in 2014, at age 48, for health reasons. Mr Kethchum had been one of the volunteers who responded to the World Trade Center in New York City after the September 11, 2001 attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people there. Mr Kethchum developed fatal lung cancer after inhaling toxic dust at ground zero.

Ofc Figol said Mr Ketchum was friendly with the police dog she had formerly handled, known as Baro. Also, Mr Ketchum adopted rescue dogs, she said.

She recalled that Mr Ketchum was a dedicated police officer.

"He loved his job and was very proud of the Newtown Police Department," she said. Ofc Figol described Mr Ketchum as honest, caring, straightforward, professional, and hardworking.

"He loved to represent the Newtown Police Department by escorting parades and other events" as the motorcycle officer, she said.

The Ketchum Award to be presented will be in the form of a clear glass teardrop-shaped trophy.

The award formally is known as The Stephen A. Ketchum People's Choice Award, according to Lisa Peterson, spokeswoman for Newtown Kennel Club.

The police dog competition is being sponsored by Newtown Kennel Club, and the Friends of the Second Company Governor's Horse Guard, with support provided by Hometown Foundation, Inc.

Throughout the event, people attending will be asked to vote for the "top cop dog." The police dog which gets the highest number of votes will receive the award in honor of Mr Ketchum's contributions to the police department, Ms Peterson said.

Active police dogs and military dogs, including German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador retrievers will compete in contests including suspect apprehension, obstacle course, tactical obedience, the fastest dog, and other events. The three highest-scoring teams will receive awards.

Event organizers urge that spectators leave their dogs at home, as only police/military dogs will be allowed on the grounds.

Besides the dog competitions, the event will include various free activities, including a tractor-pulled hay ride, pumpkin patch treasure hunt with prizes, pumpkin-decorating contest, and an opportunity to meet the horse guard's horses.

Also, an array of exotic cars will be display, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Aston Martins.

The ongoing fundraising drive for the horse guard is intended to help the unit continue operating in Newtown. The horse guard has faced state budget cuts during the past several years.

The horse guard has an 1808 charter from the Connecticut General Assembly as a state militia unit. The ceremonial guard is one of the last active cavalry units in the US.

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