On March 5th 2026, the students of The Morgan School helped Resource Officer Brian Corbin and K-9 therapy dog, Jagger, earn third place in a nationwide contest called the Hometown Heroes Grant Giveaway, winning the Clinton Police Department three thousand dollars to support their K-9 program.
This contest helps K-9 programs with funding; many K-9 programs rely on private support rather than public funding. The three thousand dollars will all go towards Jagger’s program.
Corbin, Jagger’s caretaker, has been with Jagger since the summer of 2022, and they have been best friends ever since. Corbin doesn’t only care about the money, but he also cares about Jagger’s program and our community.
“It helps me bring attention to his program. But not only that, this contest gave my community something to engage in. Then third, the money, right So the money obviously helps with his program, funding, food, veterinary bills, training – different engagement items that he can play with, keeping him excited,” Officer Corbin stated.
To enter this contest, Officer Corbin submitted an application that had Jagger’s years of service and a description of Jagger’s story and what he has done for his community.
Unlike most K-9’s, Jagger is a therapy dog instead of a patrol dog, causing him to face this stigma of looking like a patrol dog. For example, many therapy dogs are Labrador retrievers, and Jagger stands out because he is a German shepherd, but it shows that it doesn’t matter what breed you are; it just matters how the community receives you, treats you, and how the therapy dog does its job.
“It doesn’t define him. But Jagger’s story was he was seized by the State of Connecticut in 2022, through an animal cruelty case. From there, we were looking to retire an aging patrol K-9. With Jagger, he was vetted and quickly determined that he’s just way too nice to be a working patrol dog, and his demeanor and disposition, were better geared towards a therapy dog role,” stated Officer Corbin.
This was the 6th annual Hometown Heroes Grant contest, created by The HomeTown Foundation Inc, which started in 2002 by Michael Bozzuto. Michael Bozzuto is a businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is also the CEO of Bozzuto’s, a Connecticut-based company, which distributes food and household products to thousands of retailers across New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Michael Bozzuto not only helps K-9 programs but also people and communities. In 2001, he created the Dream Ride experience here in Connecticut. The Dream Ride Experience is a major three-day charitable festival and automotive extravaganza held annually, celebrating and empowering “Dream riders” who are individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Officer Corbin got third with the help of this community and got 2,747 votes. 2nd place went to Officer Cory Fullana and K-9 Dakota, from the Manchester, CT police department, who received 4, 274 votes. With that, first place went to Sergeant T.K Philips and K-9 Demon, from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office in West Virginia, with 5,051 votes, and they were this year’s 2026 Hometown Heroes Grant Giveaway winners, acquiring $12,000 combined.
Christopher Luther, vice principal at The Morgan School, has also known Jagger since 2022 and voted for him in the HomeTown Heroes Grant Giveaway. “I’m so proud of our community because I know how much Officer Corbin and Jagger mean to the students and staff here, and not just here, but even at Elliott. And, I’m so glad that came through in a vote,” stated Luther.
Luther is grateful to have such a wonderful community that cares, and it shows that students weren’t the only ones voting. Mr. Luther also voted, showing how much he cares about this community. Officer Corbin agrees and is proud to have an amazing community that participates in events like this one.
“Jagger and I could not have gotten third place without the help of students, and it was really fun Friday getting everybody to vote and participate and, you know, giving live updates to students. And it was just a lot of fun. And after every single, uh, lunch wave at the end, I would give updates on where we are, and every time, we would get like a round of applause and cheers,” stated Officer Corbin.
This contest also shows how Jagger has grown over the years he has been with the Clinton Police Department.
“He didn’t have as much, right? So it’s a nice story. As I said, it’s just a story that, you know, with, as I said, with the right training and love you can turn any dog into a good fit,” stated Officer Corbin.
From a rescue dog to a therapy dog, Jagger has been through a lot, but our community has shown him patience, love, and respect, which has built his confidence and who he is today, winning Officer Corbin and K-9 Jagger three thousand dollars from the Hometown Heroes grant giveaway.
