{"id":201,"date":"2021-08-06T17:50:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-06T17:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiggFodHRwczovL3d3dy5ub3J3aWNoYnVsbGV0aW4uY29tL3N0b3J5L25ld3MvbG9jYWwvMjAyMS8wOC8wNi9wbGFpbmZpZWxkLXBvbGljZS1rLTktcmV0aXJlZC13YWtlLW5ldy1jb25uLW1hcmlqdWFuYS1sYXdzLzU0NTQ4ODgwMDEv0gEuaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAubm9yd2ljaGJ1bGxldGluLmNvbS9hbXAvNTQ1NDg4ODAwMQ"},"modified":"2021-08-06T17:50:41","modified_gmt":"2021-08-06T17:50:41","slug":"off-the-job-connecticuts-new-marijuana-laws-lead-to-plainfield-k9s-early-retirement-norwich-bulletin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=201","title":{"rendered":"Off the job: Connecticut’s new marijuana laws lead to Plainfield K9’s early retirement – Norwich Bulletin"},"content":{"rendered":"

PLAINFIELD \u2013 Forced retirement seems to agree with Vail.<\/p>\n

After a four-year career as a narcotics-detection K9 with the Plainfield Police Department, the 5-year-old yellow Labrador has been living the easy life since Aug. 1, a month after a new state cannabis law prompted his removal from the force.<\/p>\n

\"Plainfield<\/figure>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s eating from a bowl for the first time in his life and gets to stay at home instead of working 12-16 hour shifts,\u201d said Sgt. Daniel Wolfburg, Vail\u2019s former partner and current housemate. \u201cBut he knows something\u2019s different; he sees me going to work from the window.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decision to retire Vail came in July, soon after state legislators passed a wide-ranging marijuana legalization bill that, among other things, lays out new restrictions<\/a> on how police may establish probable cause for a search of a person or vehicle.<\/p>\n

More:<\/strong>Marijuana will be legal in Conn. on July 1. This is how Eastern CT police are preparing.<\/a><\/p>\n

Prior to the law\u2019s passage, an alert on a vehicle by a narcotics-detecting K9 like Vail constituted probable cause and allowed an officer to conduct a search, seize evidence and make arrests – frequently on serious charges beyond that of simple weed possession. <\/p>\n

\"Former<\/figure>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s impossible to know if a K9 is alerting to heroin, cocaine or marijuana,\u201d Chief Mario Arriaga said. \u201cNow that recreational marijuana is legal, we can no longer use K9s at traffic stops.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arriaga as recently as late June, just days before the new law went into effect, said he hoped to keep Vail on the department\u2019s roster, perhaps for use in searches or for other non-drug-related situations.<\/p>\n