The Framingham Police Department has received $10,000 to assist in the establishment of a canine unit within the department, thanks to a grant from the Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation.

"We appreciate Framingham Co-operative Bank Charitable Foundation’s generous support and I believe that the addition of the K-9 Force will vastly improve our ability to quickly locate lost or missing people, assist in the apprehension of fleeing felons, combat illegal narcotics and establish better community relations through outreach activities," said Chief Steven Carl.

The canine will provide the Patrol and Investigation Divisions of the Framingham Police with enhanced specialized support faster than currently available.

The Framingham Police Department grant was included in the total of $71,650 awarded in support of the community during the charitable foundation’s most recent round of funding.

Since it was established in 1998, the foundation has donated more than $2 million to charitable causes as part of its commitment to improve and enhance quality of life for local residents.