The Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program: An Innovative Strategy to Break Down Barriers within the Community

Sunday, October 19, 2025

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM MT

Location: 501/502, Colorado Convention Center

Our comfort dog program has proven to be a tremendous asset to police departments by providing support to individuals affected by traumatic events. A comfort dog’s presence is effective in calming individuals, helping them focus and communicate more openly. The program has also become a valuable tool in community-oriented policing. Our comfort dogs are present in schools, offering support to all students. They help break down barriers with at-risk youth, drug-endangered individuals, and those affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office received grant funding to create a countywide regional response team of comfort dogs, enabling mutual aid across all of Plymouth County.

Submitter and Speaker(s)

Michael R. Miksch

Chief of Police
Hanson Police Department
Hanson, Massachusetts, United States

Speaker(s)

Timothy J. Cruz, J.D.

District Attorney
Plymouth County District Attorney's Office
Brockton, Massachusetts, United States
Tom Ford

Police Officer
Hingham Police Department
Hingham, Massachusetts, United States
Derek Harrington

Police Officer
Hanson Police Department
Hanson, Massachusetts, United States
David Jones

Chief of Police
Hingham Police Department
Hingham, Massachusetts, United States
Leslie Sattler, Ph.D., LICSW

Associate Professor of Social Work
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, Massachusetts, United States