Precinct 8 K-9 Program

Precinct 8 initiated its canine program in June 2012 following a generous donation from K9s4Cops, a local organization that provides trained police dogs to agencies who would otherwise not be able to afford the costs. Upon being awarded a grant, our agency was able to obtain our first K9. Today, the team consists of 2 highly trained canines that are certified in unique K9 disciplines.

Duke

In December 2019, K9 "Duke" was added to the Precinct 8 K9 team. Duke is a Belgian Malinois and is trained in Patrol and Narcotics Detection. Duke is the fourth K9 to be donated to our agency by K9s4Cops since 2012. During their October “Unleashed” fundraiser, J.P. and Aimee Monteverde provided the funding for the additional K9 and were able to choose his name in memory of their own beloved pet, Duke. Duke is currently paired with his partner, Deputy Brandon Morgan, and the two are assigned to our District Patrol Division.

Samus

In July 2023, K9 Samus was graciously gifted to the department by Janelle Green of South Carolina through her father’s (Wayne G. Basler) charitable foundation and K9s4Cops.org, a non-profit foundation, whose mission is to build a safer future by placing K9 officers in communities and schools. Samus is a Pedigree German Shepherd born on November 11, 2021 in Łódź, Poland. Her specialty is Patrol and Explosives Detection and she is paired with her handler, Deputy Jared Humphrey.

Max

In December 2023, Precinct 8 welcomed K9 Max to our ranks. Max is a Belgian Malinois born in October of 2021. He and his handler, Deputy Angel Rabago, underwent extensive training with Houston K9 Academy for him to be certified in Patrol/Narcotics. The two began patrolling the streets of Precinct 8 on December 15, 2023 following their graduation.

We would like to thank K9s4Cops for making this program a reality for our Department. To find out more about the work they are doing, please visit their website at k9s4cops.org