They don’t enlist or choose the assignment, but they never hesitate when called into danger. For decades, military and law enforcement K-9s have quietly stood on the front lines, using instinct, training and unshakable loyalty to protect the people beside them.
March 13 is recognized as K-9 Veterans Day, a date set aside to honor these working dogs who have served alongside America’s military and law enforcement agencies. Since the U.S. military first began employing Military Working Dogs, more than 30,000 have served, with roughly 1,600 currently on active duty. Trained to detect explosives, drugs and contraband, track suspects and assist in search-and-rescue operations, these dogs routinely put themselves in harm’s way, often in situations where human senses fall short.
That legacy of service extends beyond combat zones and national agencies and into our local communities. The Oklahoma City Police Department Canine Unit was established in 1963 with five handler-and-dog teams tasked with locating criminals in hiding and finding evidence. Today, the unit includes 10 canine teams overseen by a police lieutenant, providing specialized support in crime prevention, suspect apprehension, evidence detection and public safety throughout the city. In addition to their primary duties, OCPD’s Canine Unit may also be called upon to assist other specialized units in unusual or extraordinary circumstances. This may include the Tactical Unit, E.R.T., Special Projects, IMPACT and the Bomb Squad.
While some K-9s become nationally known — like Conan, the Army Special Operations dog involved in the mission against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, or Hurricane, the most decorated dog in U.S. Secret Service history — most working dogs serve without headlines or medals. This year, it’s our honor to highlight the dogs of the OCPD Canine Unit. Here, their handlers offer a closer look at their personalities, the bonds they share and the demanding work they perform every day in service to our community. They are truly man’s best friend.
SSgt. Julian Barrie & K-9 Koen
3 years old | Imported from Hungary (2024)
Patrol & Narcotic Detection | OCPD Tactical Unit
Favorite Toy: KONG ball on a rope
Favorite Treat: Anything he gets to work for, especially obedience and tricks
Tail-Wag Trigger: The possibility of chasing something
Superpower: Playing hide-and-seek with bad guys
Quirk/Funny Habit: Sleeping on his back with his paws in the air
Off-Duty Fun: Dreaming of work, playing with the other dog at home and soaking up ear rubs from family members
Most Excited at Work: Any time he gets out of the car to work alongside officers
If He Could Talk: “Where’s my ball? I know you have it!”
Proudest Moment: Locating a firearm hidden by an assault suspect in under 30 seconds after 10 officers searched unsuccessfully for 40 minutes
Personality: Driven, loyal, fast
SSgt. Abraham Luna & K-9 Jefe
16 months | Apprehension & Narcotic Detection
Favorite Toy: KONG ball
Favorite Treat: Everything
Tail-Wag Trigger: Seeing the ball come out of the dump pouch
Superpower: Bite work
Quirk/Funny Habit: Big “Yoda” ears
Off-Duty Fun: Playing two ball
Most Excited at Work: Getting out of the car
If He Could Talk: “Can I have the ball?”
Proudest Moment: Biting my hand
Personality: Stubborn, possessive, sweet
MSgt. John Paull & K-9 Bear
Favorite Toy: KONG ball
Favorite Treat: Beef jerky and dried sardines
Tail-Wag Trigger: When it’s time to get in the car
Superpower: Anything where he can win a ball
Quirk/Funny Habit: He bounces up and down when he does well.
Off-Duty Fun: Playing fetch
Most Excited at Work: Finding bad guys
If He Could Talk: “When can we go back to work?”
Proudest Moment: Catching a mad bomber
Personality: Small but mighty
Sgt. Michael Moore & K-9 Dash
Favorite Toy: KONG ball
Favorite Treat: Hotdogs
Tail-Wag Trigger: Putting anything in his mouth!
Superpower: Jaw strength
Quirk/Funny Habit: Jumping on doors with windows to look inside before opening the door
Off-Duty Fun: Playing in the yard on the kids’ fort
Most Excited at Work: Being out of the car and hearing a K-9 announcement
If He Could Talk: “Dad, do you smell this?”
Proudest Moment: Chicken coop apprehension
Personality: Big Mighty Doofus
MSgt. Chris Spillman & K-9 Arko
6 years old | German Shepherd from the Czech Republic Dual-Purpose Patrol/Bomb Dog
Favorite Toy: KONG toy (he almost won’t give it up!)
Favorite Treat: Ice cubes
Off-Duty Fun: Playing with my other dog at home, pestering her until she chases him around the yard
Favorite Part of Work: Bomb sweeps and looking for bad guys — he brings endless energy and drive to both.
Proudest Moment: Watching Arko grow from a young, inexperienced K-9 into a mature partner who knows what we’re doing without me giving a command. He has taught me as much as I’ve taught him.
Personality: Energetic, focused, loyal
Sgt. Matt Reimche & K-9 Joker
5 years old | Patrol/Bomb Dog
Favorite Toy: Tennis ball
Tail-Wag Trigger: Spotting the basketball on the court at the Thunder arena during sweeps — ears up, tail wagging, stops in his tracks to watch
Superpower: Jumping! He loves jumping over the fences and through the window on the obstacle course.
Quirk/Funny Habit: Loves being around kids and getting attention. A great family dog at home, but when he gets in the police car, he is ready to work.
Off-Duty Fun: Trying to claim the patio furniture and watching Kansas City Chiefs games with the family.
Most Excited at Work: Building searches. He jumps out of the car like a sled dog as he’s pulling to get inside.
If He Could Talk: “You can’t keep me cooped up in here all day. I’m a peacock; you gotta let me fly!”
Proudest Moment: Still ahead. Being a new handler, we are still waiting on the big moment. Joker has a great history with prior handlers, and our time will come.
Personality: Chill, loyal, focused
Sgt. Scott Poole & K-9 Sully
5 years old | Patrol/Bomb Dog
Favorite Toy: KONG ball or anything similar he can chase
Favorite Treat: He loves deer meat and beef.
Tail-Wag Trigger: Probably when he sees my wife
Quirk/Funny Habit: He will roll over for a belly rub at any time, for anyone and everyone!
Off-Duty Fun: He loves to hang out with my wife and boys and play fetch or just run around the yard.
Most Excited at Work: He loves hunting for bad guys
If He Could Talk: “Can we play ball?”
Proudest Moment: He put his nose down and tracked a homicide suspect for over three-fourths of a mile through a pasture.
Personality: Playful, friendly, hard worker
Sgt. Seth Maxwell & K-9 Sirius
1.5 years old | Apprehension & Narcotic Detection
Favorite Toy: KONG Ball
Favorite Treat: Anything that he can chew on until he passes out
Tail-Wag Trigger: When he sees his harness in my hands because he knows he gets to work
Superpower: Super speed
Quirk/Funny Habit: Sirius scoots his butt into the heel position when he is sitting.
Off-Duty Fun: Getting fed treats with his two sisters at home
Most Excited at Work: Sirius loves playing fetch and getting to play in the kennel yard.
If He Could Talk: “Ball is life.”
Proudest Moment: Sirius is in school right now, so I would say Sirius trusting me enough to drop his KONG ball to me.
Personality: Fast, friendly, wiggly
Sgt. Russ Ridener & K-9 Zakai
Favorite Toy: KONG ball
Favorite treat: Donut holes
Tail-Wag Trigger: Going to work
Best At: Anything work related
Quirk/Funny Habit: Throwing his body weight into me for pets
Off-Duty Fun: Sleeping
Most Excited at Work: Getting out of the car
If He Could Talk: “Please pet me.”
Proudest Moment: Running down violent criminals
Personality: Energetic, aggressively friendly, protective
MSgt. Matt Gilmore & K-9 Gunnar
Favorite Toy: Soccer ball
Tail-Wag Trigger: When he sees me get out the tennis racket because he knows we are playing ball
Off-Duty Fun: Off duty, he’s just like every other dog. He is relaxed and just lounges around. He plays hard at work and relaxes hard at home.
Most Excited at Work: He loves every time we get out of the car to do a search.
