Meet Liam, Somerset County’s new K-9 therapy officer

Standing on four legs and already loving the chase, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office’s newest employee, Liam, is just the right “caninedate” for the job.

Liam, a 2 ½-year-old labrador/golden retriever mix, was adopted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office in June after retiring from the Seeing Eye Program.

He has begun training for his new job as a K-9 Therapy Dog and will be working with the prosecutor's Victim Witness Unit, which helps victims of crimes and their families.

According to Prosecutor John P. McDonald, once Liam is trained and certified, he and his handler, Erin Rocchietti, coordinator of the Victim Witness Unit, will comfort victims at the courthouse and the Prosecutor’s Office Child Advocacy Center (CAC).

Any children who come into the CAC for a forensic interview will be able to see Liam in an effort to help traumatized survivors talk about their experiences.

Liam will also aim to help victims and their families prepare for court experiences.

McDonald said he hopes Liam can assist staffers in the Victim Witness Unit as they strive to ease stress and prevent victims from being retraumatized during the criminal justice process.

The decision to hire Liam was inspired by the calm presence a dog provides employees when they arrive home from work, according to the prosecutor.

Once sworn in, Liam will become the first official K-9 Therapy Dog of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.