The Reality of Working a Police K9

In 2005, I went to the K9 unit in Las Vegas for the first time. I had no idea that working a dog would literally change the course of my life.

Before K9, my goal was to become an undercover officer. My father had spent years in Narcotics, and I grew up hearing stories about undercover deals, dangerous operations, and large amounts of drugs being taken off the streets. I took every class I could to prepare for that path and even became a Spanish interpreter to make myself a stronger candidate.

My first taste of plainclothes narcotics work came while I was assigned to the Problem-Solving Unit at Southeast Area Command. We focused on a high-crime narcotics area and tried to make “cold buys,” where I would approach a suspected dealer and attempt to purchase drugs. I failed miserably. I tried several times over the next few months and kept failing. I couldn’t even close a deal with a known prostitute during a vice operation.

I was at a crossroads.

I realized that continuing to pursue undercover work would put both me and my team in unnecessary danger. I just didn’t have the natural skill set for it, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure what direction my career was headed.

Around that same time, I was in a foot pursuit where a suspect hid in a backyard. A K9 handler arrived and asked me to be his backup officer on the search. After about ten minutes, his K9 partner began barking at a bush, and the suspect crawled out.

Once the suspect was cuffed, I talked with the handler. He told me that since I was proactive and always getting into foot pursuits, I should consider testing for K9. I had never thought about it before, but that conversation stuck with me. Soon after, I began training with the K9 section.

I tested and transferred to K9.

Over the years, I learned the ins and outs of working a dog, the techniques, the teamwork, and the responsibility. I learned the true value of a police K9 and how they not only increase officer safety but also protect suspects. They are one of the only truly less-lethal use-of-force options that can leverage a suspect’s fear to gain compliance without escalating violence.

But the value of a police dog goes far beyond tactics. These dogs have an unmatched ability to read situations, sense emotion, and mirror their handler’s energy. They teach patience, trust, and consistency. They remind you that calm confidence is more powerful than force and that instincts, when trained and trusted, can save lives.

K9s give officers a tool that prevents unnecessary harm while still allowing them to protect their community. I’ve seen countless situations where the simple announcement of a K9 presence stopped a pursuit or ended a standoff peacefully. That’s something statistics can’t fully measure, but every handler knows it’s real.

Working a police dog isn’t just about chasing suspects, but that part of the job is truly both fun and rewarding. My time in K9 taught me that sometimes the most effective partner you’ll ever have walks on four legs.