ORONO – The Police Department received a $1,600 grant Tuesday from Bangor and Brewer Wal-Mart stores to help fund the department’s canine program.

Caliber, a 3-year-old chocolate Lab, never is far from Orono police Officer Derek Dinsmore’s side and now he has a safe and comfortable place to ride.

Dinsmore learned about the grant opportunity through Wal-Mart’s Good Works program and contacted Don Emmons, the store’s regional community relations supervisor.

“He did a good job convincing me,” Emmons said.

The money was used to properly outfit Dinsmore’s cruiser for Caliber to ride in, rather than having him sitting on the seat.

“It provides a safe and comfortable riding platform for him while he’s in the car,” Dinsmore said.

Caliber didn’t have any comment, but as soon as the cruiser door opened he jumped in and made himself at home.

Caliber serves as a narcotics detection dog and has logged more than 300 hours of training. He might receive instruction on how to become a tracking dog to find missing people and suspects, Orono police Capt. Josh Ewing said.

“He’s already doing his thing very well with the drugs,” he said.

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