MONTAGUE, Mass. (WWLP) - The Montague Police Department will have a new four-legged officer joining the team after K-9 Artie passed away. Deadline: REAL ID enforcement goes into effect in six months K-9 Artie passed away on October 2nd after a short decline in health due to cancer. The department has decided to select another dog to fill his shoes. Through the same organization, the U.S. by Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville Pennsylvania, K-9 Lawrence Arthur Akim (Larry for short) joined the Montague police force. In a Facebook post by the department, Larry's surname came from, Lawrence (a symbol of victory and achievement), Arthur (it was only fitting he needed a middle name), Akim (the name he came with from Slovakia). Officer Jim Ruddock and 18-month-old Larry have been bonding for the last two weeks before formal training begins. Larry will officially be sworn in as an officer at the Town of Montague Select Board meeting on December 2nd. Local News Headlines New EV charging station opens in Deerfield Brush fire risk rises as drought expected to continue Chamber of Greater Easthampton holds annual ‘sheLEADS Women`s Conference’ at HCC State House Spotlight: Movement on major bills WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.