Patrol

K-9 Unit

[From left: Officer Craig Hamilton and K-9 Leo, Officer Keith Cler and K-9 Angel, Officer Shawn Kendall and K-9 Stryder, Sergeant Troy Teigen and K-9 Rico, Officer Dan Lesser and K-9 Rav, Officer Paul Gorman and K-9 Maximus, Officer Jake Jensen and K-9 Duke, Officer Dan Waters and K-9 JJ]

The Spokane Police Department K-9 Unit was formed in 1987 by Major Gill Moberly, Sgt. Ron Erickson, and the then current Chief, Terry Mangan. The K-9 Unit started with three German Shepherd patrol dogs imported from Germany (above). The canine teams proved so successful in locating criminal suspects that one year later, in 1988, the department added two more patrol dog teams, bringing the total to five. In 1993, one of the K-9 teams was crossed-trained in narcotics detection to test the need for a narcotics dog in Spokane. This team was utilized successfully so often that one year later a single-purpose narcotics dog was added. Another year later, a second single-purpose narcotics dog was added. The Spokane Police Department currently has two narcotics dogs and five patrol dogs, all of which are single purpose.

For a close-up look at the life of a K-9 dog and his handler, please watch the SPD K-9 Video from our streaming media page to learn more and see our dogs in action.

For information on the Police Patrol Dog Advanced Handler Course, please watch the Advanced Handler Course Video.

Dog Selection

The Spokane Police Department’s first dogs were imported German Shepherds trained in Schutzhund (protection dog sport). The department soon started a unique puppy program with these dogs. The dogs are bred and the puppies are placed in the homes of interested officers. The K-9 Unit supervisor monitors their growth and at approximately one year of age, the dog is then tested for his potential to be a police dog. Over the history of the K-9 Unit, six of our police dogs have been products of the puppy program with several others placed in departments throughout the Northwest.

Training

To become a canine handler with the Spokane Police Department, an officer must have three years employment in law enforcement, pass a physical and firearms qualification tests and an interview, and have the proper home setting. Once selected, Washington Administrative Code requires an additional 400 hours of training to become a patrol dog handler and 200 hours of training to become a narcotics dog handler. The Spokane Police Department provides continuous weekly training of approximately six hours for each of its K-9 teams. Teams throughout Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Western Montana often attend this weekly training. The Spokane Police Department K-9 Unit belongs to the Washington State Police Canine Association, which hosts two training seminars a year. If you are a Law Enforcement Officer interested in attending a SPD K-9 Training Session, please contact the K-9 Sergeant at (509) 625-4116. The WSPCA also provides accreditation standards for both patrol dogs and narcotics dogs. One of our handlers, Kevin King, is currently the President of the WSPCA. This organization also provides a process for handlers to be recognized as trainers. Our K-9 Unit currently has two Master Trainers and one Assistant Trainer for patrol dogs and one Master Trainer for narcotics dogs. The Spokane Police Department K-9 Unit is also a leader in the training and utilization of police dogs with SWAT teams. Our own department's SWAT Team uses our canine teams extensively when searching for criminal suspects. Our K-9 Unit has provided training in SWAT/K-9 utilization to numerous departments throughout Washington, Idaho, and Montana.

Donations

Spokane Police K9 Unit would like to proudly thank the following people for their gracious donations to our unit:

Russell & Linda Yates
Mr & Mrs. Thomas A. Conklin
Pat Kingsbury
Grace L. Thomas
Virginia Hutsell
Tony & Sharon Herman
Helen M. MacGregor
Mr. James H Yates
Ronald L & Myrna Moe
The Kever Family
Sheir Kever
Alvin C. & Cynthia P. Thiel
Zachary Adam and the Eagle Scouts
Dave & Tracy Emmitt and their two generous children who gave up their Christmas presents for the donation
Deborah Strong and Family

Spokane Police K9 unit will accept donations for the purchase of dogs, equipment and safety supplies; please contact K9 Sgt. Troy Teigen at (509) 625-4116 or email him at tteigen@spokanepolice.org Please make checks out to Spokane Police K9 Unit.

Drug Dogs

Dogs that are used for locating narcotics are called narcotic detection or drug dogs. These dogs are trained to find the scent of marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Dogs that make good drug dogs have a high play or ball drive. Our dogs are trained that if they find the scent of one of these substances they will give a passive or sit response. In this case, the dog will get it's nose as close as possible to the source of the scent and then sit. The advantage of this response is that the dog will most likely not damage anything and, in certain circumstances, may be used to search people. The dogs are trained to search buildings, vehicles, open areas, luggage and packages. A drug dog's alert in itself may be considered enough probable cause for a search warrant to be obtained. In 2007, Chief Anne Kirkpatrick brought back the department’s drug dog program after it was lost in 2004 due to massive city-wide budget cuts.

Patrol Dogs

Dogs that are used for locating criminal suspects are called Patrol Dogs. These dogs are trained to locate human scent. A dog's nose is estimated to be anywhere from 100 to 1,000,000 times stronger than the human nose. Patrol dogs search buildings and open areas, track suspects that have fled an area, and can locate any evidence that a suspect discards. A patrol dog searches a building or open area simply by trying to locate any human scent in that area. A patrol dog can search a building or area faster, safer, with less manpower, and more accurately than officers can.. A patrol dog is also able to locate evidence that a suspect may have discarded. The dog does this by, again, searching for human scent. When a person handles a gun, knife, wallet or any other object then discards it, that person's scent remains on that object for a period of time. The dog may find this evidence while on a track or when called to search an area after a suspect has already been located. In 2006, the Spokane Police Department's Patrol Dog teams were called 1429 times to search for criminal suspects or evidence.

Top Dog

Every year the Spokane Police Department K-9 Unit awards one of its K-9 teams the title of “Top Dog.”

Each team competes in ten different events such as obedience, fastest building search, fastest track, fastest area search, shooting, and the unit’s qualifying run, along with the most finds for the year.

2008 - Paul Gorman and Bear

Past "Top Dog" Recipients:

2007 - Kevin King and Hero

2006 - Mark Griffiths

2005 - Craig Hamilton and Beny

2004 - Shawn Kendall and Caezar

2003 - (Tie) Kris Honaker and Bear

2003 - (Tie) Dan Lesser and Var

2002 - Kevin King and Hero

Trading Cards

K-9 Unit Trading Cards!

All of our K-9 officers and their dogs have great trading cards that you can collect and learn facts about each handler and dog team. Click on a picture of a K-9 team to bring the cards up in PDF format to print at home. We are currently out of the double-sided trading cards, but check back frequently as they will be available again soon!