Friday, March 29, 2024

Meet K-9 Duco – The newest addition to the Southlake Police Dept.

K-9 Officer DucoMeet K-9 Duco – the latest addition to the Southlake Police Department. Duco is a 3-year old male Dutch Shepherd originally from the Netherlands. K-9 Duco is trained in narcotics, apprehension and tracking. He was purchased using Crime Control and Prevention District funds. He replaces K-9 Ruckus who was medically retired earlier this year.

Sergeant Gaylon Music, who is over the K-9 program, and K-9 Officer Nate Anderson traveled to U.S. K-9 Unlimited in Kaplan, Louisiana in January in search of the perfect police dog. Prior to visiting the kennel, Officer Anderson had received bios and pictures of all of the available potential K-9’s that he would be testing. Officer Anderson saw Duco and knew instantly that he was the right choice to be his next partner. “I wanted Duco the minute I saw him. After watching him in training I knew that he had all the right qualities that I was looking for in a great K-9. He is already proving that he will be a great crime-fighting partner.” IMG_9482

Officer Anderson and Duco hit the streets this month and continue to train and develop the bond necessary for a police officer and his K-9 partner. Duco will be outfitted with a brand new K-9 bullet resistant vest thanks to a generous donation.  Mr. Von Husbands, who is the owner of Red Barn BBQ in Colleyville, provided the vest. Husbands says, “I decided to donate the money for the cost of the vest after watching the funeral for a K-9 police dog that was killed in the line of duty in Oklahoma.  It really touched me and I wanted to do something – that’s when I got the idea for the vest for Southlake’s K-9 dog.” Assistant Police Chief James Brandon says, “We are very grateful to Mr. Husbands for his generous donation that allowed the department to purchase a bullet-resistant vest for Duco.”   IMG_9506

The K-9 program has proved to be invaluable to the Southlake Police Department.  SLPD K-9 unit has successfully detected narcotics in vehicles as well as assisted in locating suspects that have fled from Officers. Assistant Police Chief J. Brandon says, “Duco will be a great asset to the Southlake Police Department family. K-9 Officer Anderson and Duco are already working together to help keep our citizens safer.”