If you’ve been to Harvest Fair in Newton Center, or the Fourth of July celebration at Albemarle Field, you’ve probably seen Officer Justin Lau. He has served as a Newton police officer for fifteen years and is a familiar figure at a wide range of Newton community events — especially when he is in the company of his canine partner, Officer Leo. He and Leo — a three-and-a-half year old Golden Retriever — have been pioneers as outreach partners for all of Leo’s life. Officer Lau was chosen from among six applicants to work with the newly assigned puppy officer, and he and Leo have lived, trained, and worked together on many festive as well as tragic events ever since.
Before their partnership, Officer Lau had been a patrolman here in his home city, serving on the force where his uncle had also served. His father worked for the Middlesex Sheriff’s office. Having grown up on the south side of Newton, he went to the Countryside, Brown Middle School, and Newton South high School. He grew up with dogs, and he also grew up wanting to work in Newton as part of the community.
The opportunity to develop a new community service presented itself to Officer Lau when the new Police Chief, John Carmichael came to the Newton Police Department and instituted the Community Resource Dog Program in partnership with GOFI — Golden Opportunities For Independence. As the name suggests, the dogs are golden retrievers, carefully chosen for the job.
Following intensive training, Officers Lau and Leo offer comfort to people undergoing trauma. For example, when three family members were slain in Nonantum, Officer Lau, Officer Leo, and another Community Resource dog were on hand at the community meeting called to provide a place for people to gather and express grief. Officer Lau described Leo as “the best listener in the world.”
Newton’s recently sworn-in police chief, George McMains has been involved with another line of resource dogs, the Guiding Eyes Program, raising canines to assist people with serious vision issues.
Officer Lau describes himself as a “feel good officer,” looking for ways to engage the police department in neighborhood activities. His ready smile and warm personality are an excellent fit for the job. He believes his role as Community Outreach Officer is to develop new ideas for community participation.
Asked if he has been dealing with residents worried about deportation, he said he’s had some conversations, but that the focus of the deportations has been “going after bad guys” with serious criminal records.
Always looking for opportunities to share department resources, Officer Lau and his human Outreach partner, Officer Lauren Keefe, introduced the first CPR for Animals course — a three-hour program leading to the participants being certified in animal first aid. At the first class, seven people learned how to determine if their pets are in need of professional attention and the range of ways to help them — including CPR. Officer Lau is planning to offer the class again and hopes it will be available on a quarterly schedule. He explained that he and his colleagues are re-certified in first aid and CPR annually.
Asked about changes in the Newton Police Department (NPD) during his fifteen-year tenure, Officer Lau noted that when he applied for the job there were hundreds of people who took the entrance test, but now the number of applicants is considerably lower. The NPD has 140 officers — short of its full allotment of 150. Most of the current force has Newton roots, as he does. While he and Leo live in Newton, they share their skills with other communities participating in the Community Resource Dog program.
