Category Archives: K-9

Whittier PD’s first female K-9 team to begin patrols

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The Whittier Police Department’s first female K-9 and handler team is due to hit the streets for patrol next week, officials said.
K-9 Nala recently graduated training, along with handler Officer Angela Balzano, Whittier police Lt. Bryan Ellis said. The team is expected to hit the streets next week.
Balzano is the department’s first female K-9 handler, Officer John Scoggins said. Nala is an 18-month-old Belgian Malinois.
Nala is trained for patrol operations, and is expected to undergo drug detection training soon, police said.
She will become the Whittier Police Department’s second K-9, officials added. “Max,” a 3-year-old German shepherd, began patrolling with Officer Jeremy Rounds last month.
Max is also trained for patrol duties, but expected to be trained to sniff out drugs in the near future,
Prior to that, the department had gone more than a year without a K-9 on duty.
Max was funded by the police department, while Nala was funded by support from the community, Scoggins said.

PHOTOS courtesy of the Whittier Police Department.

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Meet Kota: Second K-9 joins Arcadia Police Department

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Arcadia’s newest police officer hit the streets this week to patrol by paw and sniff out crime.
Kota, a 3-year-old Dutch shepherd, is the Arcadia Police Department’s new K-9, department spokesman Tom LeVeque said in a written statement.
He began duty on Monday, handled by Officer Travis Sargent, a law enforcement veteran of more than a decade, according to Sgt. Luis Juarez.
“He is a confident K-9 with strong drive and hunt, and a balanced temperament,” LeVeque said. “Kota is trained as a dual-purpose K-9 in both patrol duties and explosives detection.”
Kota hails from Eastern Europe and recently completed the Gold Coast K9 Academy in Moorpark, along with his handler, police added.
He joins Arcadia’s other police dog, Zoli, who joined the police department late last year, becoming Arcadia’s first police K-9 in 12 years.
Zoli is trained for both patrol and narcotics detection duties, officials said.
Both K-9s were purchased and trained with funds raised by the Arcadia Police Foundation.

PHOTO courtesy of the Arcadia Police Department

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Retired Glendora police K-9 ‘Roby’ dies

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GLENDORA >> The Glendora Police Department said goodbye this week to a faithful four-legged officer who served the community for seven years before retiring in 2014.
Roby, a Belgian Malinois who patrolled the streets of Glendora alongside handler Officer Al Ancheta under the call sign “3K2,” died Thursday, Glendora police officials announced over the weekend.
“Roby died doing one of his favorite things in the world: going on a car ride,” police said in a written statement. “Roby was a strong working dog, a loyal partner to Officer Ancheta and guardian to the Ancheta and Glendora Police Department families. We ask that you keep Officer Ancheta and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn the loss of what can truly be described as man’s best friend.”
Roby was the Glendora Police Department’s second police dog when he joined the agency in 2007, officials said.
“Roby assisted in the arrest of numerous dangerous criminals, the recovery of illegal narcotics and he highlighted countless community events,” the statement said. “Roby was a regular fixture in the Glendora Police station, always walking around with a ball in his mouth begging someone to throw it, yet stubbornly refusing to allow anyone to take it away from him.”
After retiring, Roby lived out his days with Ancheta’s family, becoming particularly fond of Ancheta’s youngest son.
“Roby sired two litters of healthy puppies, the second of which was born only hours before he left us,” according to the statement.
In the statement, the department offered one last parting message to its loyal K-9.
“Roby, you will be missed. 3K2, you are clear to secure.”
But the Glendora Police Department’s K-9 program lives on, with K-9 Bo and handler Officer Scott Salvage.
The department announced earlier this week that Bo will soon be receiving a bullet and stab resistant vest to help keep him safe while on-duty, thanks to an anonymous donor and the non-profit organization Vested interest in K9s.
“I would like to thank the Vested Interest in K9s for providing the Glendora Police Department with a great piece of equipment to protect my partner,” Salvage said. “This will help allow him to better protect our team and community.”

PHOTOS courtesy of the Glendora Police Department

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Covina police K-9 attacked by stray pit bull

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"Covina Police Officer Ryan Ryan Rasmussen with his new K-9 partner, Yarno, at Covina City Hall on Thursday July 23, 2015. It has been more than 10 years without a police K-9 servicing Covina. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/San Gabriel Valley Tribune)"

*FILE PHOTO* Covina Police Officer Ryan Ryan Rasmussen with his new K-9 partner, Jarno, at Covina City Hall on Thursday July 23, 2015. It has been more than 10 years without a police K-9 servicing Covina. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/San Gabriel Valley Tribune)

COVINA >> Covina Police Department K-9 Jarno is recovering after being attacked by a stray pit bull while walking with his handler along Barranca Avenue on Thursday afternoon, officials said.
The 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, who joined the department in July of 2015 after more than 10 years without a police dog, suffered puncture wounds to his abdomen but was expected to be okay, Covina police Lt. Ric Walczak said.
The attack took place about 4:30 a.m. in the 500 block of South Barranca Avenue, as the K-9 and his handler were heading to a fundraiser to benefit the department’s K-9 unit, the lieutenant said.
“The K-9 officer, (Ryan) Rasmussen, was walking with his partner, Jarno, when a stray pit bull attacked our K-9, Walczak said.
Rasmussen used a Taser to fend off the attacking pit bull, which ran off and was not found, he said.
Jarno was taken to a veterinarian for treatment of puncture wounds and abrasions, police said. The injuries did not appear major, and Jarno was expected to spend about a week off duty to recover.
Authorities were still seeking the involved pit bull, described as a 70-pound, dark-gray American pit bull wearing a dark-colored collar.
Anyone with information can reach Covina police at 626-384-5595.

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PHOTO courtesy of the Covina Police Department

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