SHR

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit is a specialized division consisting of eight dog/handler teams.  The focus of the K9 Unit is to reduce the number of man hours spent on calls and increase the safety of officers involved on calls. 

It is estimated that each K9 team can save between 800 and 1,000 man hours per year.  K9 teams respond to violent calls, building searches related to alarms or reports of forced entry, fleeing subjects, searches for missing, lost, or endangered children or persons, and narcotic calls.

K9 teams are also called in to assist other tactical units such as SWAT, Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, and various federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and ATF.  At least one K9 is on call at all times.  Regional calls for service are common and are examples of the good working relationships we have maintained with other local, state, and federal agencies. 

The specialized nature of the K9 Unit requires handlers to train a minimum of 20 hours a month as a group in addition to the daily training each dog-handler team conducts.  The K9 Unit has six dogs assigned to the Patrol Division certified in patrol function and narcotic detection, and two dogs assigned to the Jail Division certified in narcotic detection.

If you are interested in helping LCSO K9s after retiring due to age or injury, please visit the Larimer Retired K9 Foundation.

 

 

Image 1: Corporal Aaron Hawks and K9 Hyde (Belgian Malinois)

Corporal Aaron Hawks and K9 Hyde (Belgian Malinois)

Breed: Belgian Malinois

Handler: Corporal Aaron Hawks

Image 2: Corporal Jeff Kaley and K9 Lukin (German Shepherd)

Corporal Jeff Kaley and K9 Lukin (German Shepherd)

Breed: German Shepherd

Handler: Corporal Jeff Kaley

Image 3: Corporal Megan Thomas and K9 Maizey (Yellow Lab)

Corporal Megan Thomas and K9 Maizey (Yellow Lab)

Breed: Yellow Lab

Handler: Corporal Megan Thomas

Image 4: Deputy Derek Miller and K9 Mav (Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd)

Deputy Derek Miller and K9 Mav (Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd)

Breed: Belgian Malinois

Handler: Deputy Derek Miller

Image 5: Deputy Emily Reed and K9 Riggs (Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd)

Deputy Emily Reed and K9 Riggs (Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd)

Breed: Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd 

Handler: Deputy Emily Reed

Image 6: Corporal Joe Pugliese and K9 Rone (Belgian Malinois)

Corporal Joe Pugliese and K9 Rone (Belgian Malinois)

Breed: Belgian Malinois

Handler: Corporal Joe Pugliese

Image 7: Corporal Mitch McGuinnis and K9 Tyr (Belgian Malinois)

Corporal Mitch McGuinnis and K9 Tyr (Belgian Malinois)

Breed: Belgian Malinois

Handler: Corporal Mitch McGuinnis

Image 8: Deputy Hobson and K9 Ion

Deputy Hobson and K9 Ion

Breed: English Labrador Retriever

Handler: Deputy Kevin Hobson