K-9 Murph and his handler, Medford Cpl. Gregory Blash, are in the running for the Hometown Foundation grant giveaway.
The foundation will grant $12,000 to police K-9 units from across the nation who have exemplified true commitment to protecting and serving their towns, according to the organization’s website. The grant payout will go to the top three law-enforcement agencies with the most eligible votes.
The top vote getter will receive a $5,000 donation, the second will get $4,000 and the third will earn $3,000. The winners will receive checks to purchase equipment for their K-9 units.
K-9 Murph is a 3-year-old German shepherd and has been certified for one-and-a-half years in patrol and explosive detection, according to Medford police.
“K-9 Murph and I started working together in March of 2023 and have helped continue to make Medford safe with explosive detection and tracks to find missing persons and apprehend suspects,” Blash noted in his grant application.
He cited a May 2024 early-morning call for a K-9 to track three suspects who had fled from a stolen vehicle after it was involved in a crash. They were also suspects in several prior vehicle burglaries, according to police.
“K-9 Murph and I responded to the location to assist and aid in the track of the suspects,” Blash recounted. “A subsequent track was initiated, where K-9 Murph lead officers to two cell phones in a wooded area dropped by the suspects while fleeing.
“The track continued through the neighborhood,” he added, “through multiple fenced-in yards where K-9 Murph ultimately lead officers to the two additional suspects hiding in a wooded area behind a residence, leading to the arrest and identification of all three suspects involved.”
Along with tracking suspects, Murph and Blash participate in school meet-and-greets and ensure there are no explosives detected at township-sponsored events like National Night Out, the Junior Police Academy and station-house tours.
The K-9 and his partner are called on about three to four times a month and respond to neighboring agencies who need assistance. Murph is essential to Medford police because he has multiple certifications in patrol work along with his explosives training.
“K-9 Murph is trained to track missing juveniles, missing endangered adults, as well as fleeing suspects from crimes,” Blash explained. “(He) is also certified in locating articles that could have been lost or discarded in a crime.”
If awarded the grant, Medford police will purchase training aids to maintain Murph’s certification, as well as equipment needed to outfit future K-9 teams that can expand the department’s services to the township community and surrounding areas, according to Blash.
Voting for the grant began on Feb. 1 and continues through Friday, Feb. 28. Winners will be announced on March 6.
For more information visit https://k9.hometownfoundation.org/
