Canine Unit Services History

In 2004:

The supervision of the Canine Services Unit was transferred to the Major Crimes Unit where it remains today.

In 2005:

K9 Officer Patty Morris was assigned to the Canine Services Unit and teamed up with Police Service Dog – Quantor after K9 Officer Norfleet rotated back to patrol. Morris was the first female handler in the unit’s history.

In 2006:

K9 Officer Joey Scruggs came to the unit and was assigned Police Service Dog-Axel a Patrol/Narcotics Dog.  Scruggs later transferred to Police Service Dog-Quantor when Axel was reclassified as a narcotics only dog.   Police Service Dog Quantor was unassigned at the time as his handle had left the department. Police   Service Dog – Axel was taken to K9 Instructor Papastathis as a supplement to Police Service Dog –   Tyson (not pictured) who lost the use of a rear leg in a kennel accident. Although Tyson remains on   duty as a narcotics and evidence detector dog his handicap does produce some limitations.

In 2007

The Canine Services Unit, in a joint effort with the Park Ranger Service, added K-9 Officer Mike Runyon-Davis/Police Service Dog – Shelby (not pictured) a narcotics detector dog to the unit. This team patrols the parks and recreation facilities of the city. Decoy Officer Nelson Rodriguez joined the program providing the assistance required to conduct special training events with the dogs.

In 2008

The Canine Services Unit, with the support of the Police Department’s Command Stand launched a rebirth of the unit by adding two new Police Service Dog teams to support the patrol division. Police Service Dogs Aris and Oli were purchased and matched to their new handlers, Officer Brian Coghill and Officer Bret Norfleet. These teams started formal training in January 2009. Decoy Officer Melissa Spielhagen joined the program providing assistance required to conduct special training events with the dogs. Melissa is the first female decoy in the unit’s history.