TOPEKA (KSNT) – Tuesday marks National Police K-9 Day, and the Topeka Police Department is honoring all of its K-9 officers.
The TPD has seven active K-9s, five being narcotics detection dogs and two being explosive detection dogs. Narcotic detection dogs are used on the street and are used in traffic stops in case officers have a suspicion of illegal drug activity. The job of explosive detection dogs is to search around at public events and areas like parades, churches and military gatesto sweep for explosives.
All seven of the TPD’s dogs are certified in patrol. They can track suspects, clear buildings and they are willing to go in first. We spoke with K-9 Sergeant Joshua Miller who said these dogs are their partners.
“With the police K-9s, just their driving and ability to want to work,” said K-9 Sergeant Joshua Miller. “They’re always wanting to be with us. Get out of the car with us. I mean, it stinks when we got to run in and do a call; it doesn’t require a dog. And we hear them in the back spinning, whining. They want to get out.”
“They want to be a part of the team,” Miller said. “They’re not needed at that time. We see them almost as like they are a partner. They’re a guy in there. They just don’t do the paperwork. They just do all the fun stuff, though.”
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The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office invited the Topeka K-9 unit to the K-9 games, a friendly competition with multiple K-9 handlers from local law enforcement agencies. In support of the Special Olympics at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Stormont Vail Event Center.
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