Inside Look: K9 Training
Sitting patiently in a church parking lot on the northwest side of Colorado Springs, Tank was waiting for his turn to join his fellow K9’s search for suspects in the backyards of the surrounding neighborhood.
Tank, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, and his handler Officer Donavan were participating in weekly training that is designed to keep Colorado Springs Police Department’s K9 teams sharp.
In total, the CSPD K9 Unit consists of eight patrol dogs, four bomb squad dogs, three airport security dogs, and one undercover dog assigned to the department’s Metro Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence.
However, the road to becoming a police canine isn’t an easy one. The dogs and their handlers must first undergo 15 weeks of basic training, which is immediately followed by six to eight weeks of field training before joining the patrol.
After the teams deploy to active service, they receive four hours of on-going training per week; and dual purpose dogs receive an additional eight hours per week at a minimum. But before any training even begins, the CSPD is already looking for specific qualities when recruiting canines. While breeds like Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds, and Labradors are typically chosen, when it comes to selecting police dogs, it is really about choosing canines with natural instincts, such as herding.
Once all the training and certifications are complete, CSPD canine teams hit the street apprehending suspects, searching for narcotics, and more. Just like we would any other officer, the CSPD takes extra precautions to ensure the safety of our K9s. The K9 police SUVs are specifically designed with powerful air conditioning and heat alert systems that notify the K9's handler when the back of the car is getting too hot. If the temperature does rise to a specific degree, the rear windows will automatically drop, fans will turn on, and an additional alarm goes off to alert the handler.
There is no doubt the handler and the canine take care of each other. Every day, police officers encounter dangerous situations, and often times, canines are the first ones to put their lives on the line to protect both their handler and the community as a whole.
Just a few weeks ago, K9 Kylo and Officer Jason Falette were called out to assist the CSPD’s Tactical Enforcement Unit who was attempting to locate a “Most Wanted” suspect. When a foot chase ensued between officers and the suspect, K9 Kylo was there to help. The suspect ended up running directly towards the K9, and after several canine warnings were given and Kylo was deployed, the suspect immediately surrendered. It was a textbook example of how K9s can really help out an operation, and we are grateful for these four-legged officers who are dedicated to ensuring the safety of our community.
When handlers and canines are together 24/7, their bond becomes immeasurable. The K9s serve about seven to eight years with the department before retiring. What comes after? The canines enjoy a happy retirement with their handler and family.
Often times, we get requests from the public how to donate to the K9 program. The best way to help out is to donate food and toys to your nearest substation or at the Police Operations Center at 705 South Nevada Avenue.
