Canine Unit

The Huber Heights Police Division currently has two K-9 units. Both K-9s are Belgian Malinois. The dogs are imported from Holland where they are trained from a puppy. Once they are imported in the United States they are trained to perform a variety of tasks for police work. Each handler is required to go through a five week basic K-9 class, plus train weekly. Each K-9 team is required to under go certification by the State of Ohio every two years. The K-9's live with their handlers and are subject to call at anytime.

The K-9s are trained in narcotics detection, criminal apprehension, handler protection, tracking, building search, area search, and evidence recovery. The K-9s are trained in minimal force, which means they will not bite a suspect who surrenders. The K-9s will simply bark at the suspect until an officer takes them into custody.

Officer Aaron Harlow and K-9 Sammy have been a K-9 team since 2003. Sammy has over a dozen criminal apprehensions and has performed minimal force on everyone. Sammy's largest narcotic finds include 132 pounds of marijuana in a warehouse and over 3.1 million dollars in cash seized for the DEA. It was one of the largest cash seizures in Ohio! Sammy also placed as the third fastest dog in the 2005 Indiana K-9 Olympics.

Officer Savard and K-9 Dragon to have been a team since 2008. K-9 Dragon came into service in June 2007, and replaced K-9 Lex who passed away unexpectedly. K-9 Dragon is a 1 year-old Belgian Malinois and came from Gold Shield Kennels in Columbus. K-9 Dragon is trained in narcotics detection and patrol related functions. K-9 Dragon is trained exactly like K-9 Sammy. K-9 Dragon recorded his first criminal apprehension on his very first shift on his very first call! Dragon was originally assigned to Officer Wertz but was re-assigned due to a duty related injury. K-9 Dragon is very friendly and be sure to say hi to him and Officer Savard when you see them on patrol. They are currently assigned to midnight watch.

Mrs. Huber has been gracious enough to donate the last three K-9s for the Huber Heights Police Division. We thank her tremendously for these very important tools.

The K-9s are available for demonstrations, please contact the Public Affairs Unit to set one up for your group. If you see them on patrol, feel free to stop and ask to pet Sammy or Dragon, they are both very friendly dogs!