PIQUA – The Piqua Police Department is excited to announce that it has selected a canine and the officer to become his handler as part of the Police K-9 Program announced earlier this year.
Police leadership has named Officer Garret Lotz as the canine handler, who selected Pako, a Belgian Malinois, last Monday to join the local force.
“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to work as a canine handler again, and I’m also excited to see the positive impact this will make on the community,” Officer Lotz said.
The Piqua Community Foundation in May fully funded the department’s grant request for the program, allowing the launch to move forward. In addition to the grant funding received from The Foundation, the Police K-9 Program also has support from Ohio State Highway Patrol and local pet supply business R Pets.
Officer Lotz has been with the Piqua Police Department since 2010 and has been a part of the Special Response Team since 2018. He has more than four years of experience as a dog handler from his previous work with the Department of Defense. Pako will be Officer Lotz’s third working dog in his career.
Officer Lotz received his dog handling training from the 341st Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he attended a three-month academy with an additional course in tracking.
Pako is a one-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois. He was selected from Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind. Vohne Liche Kennels is a globally recognized, full-service K-9 training facility that sources working dogs from overseas and trains them for service.
Canine selection tests include a scout/hunt test, which demonstrates the dog’s ability with search tasks; environmental scenarios, which reveal how a dog responds to diverse textures, sounds and sensory experiences; a temperament evaluation, to measure how the dog interacts with people and other dogs; and a physical examination, which rules out any health concerns that may restrict the dog’s ability to work.
Pako, who will now attend Ohio State Highway Patrol training in Marysville, will enter a 10-week training course with Officer Lotz in September. He will also join Lotz’s wife, children and pet Belgian Malinois at their home. By engaging Pako with plenty of play and praise for the first few weeks, Officer Lotz will establish the trust and connection necessary before moving on to work-related training.
Lotz said he is hopeful that Pako will be on service with the Piqua Police Department around Thanksgiving of this year. He said canine units can be a “force multiplier” by improving efficiencies in tracking and evidence recovery work.
“I think Pako will make the city safer and will improve morale,” he said. “Adding him to the department will increase our efficiency in locating lost children or elders, tracking down suspects and detecting narcotics.”
Police Chief Rick Byron said the Police K-9 Program represents a significant investment in advancing law enforcement methodologies to better serve and safeguard the Piqua community. The canine unit, along with its skilled handler, will play a pivotal role in various law enforcement operations, including:
Narcotics detection: The canine unit will assist in detecting illegal drugs, contributing to the crackdown on drug trafficking and substance abuse within the department’s jurisdiction.
Search and rescue: Equipped with unparalleled olfactory senses, the canine unit will aid in locating missing persons and providing vital assistance during search and rescue missions.
Patrol and tracking: With their exceptional tracking abilities, the canine team will assist in apprehending suspects, locating evidence and securing crime scenes swiftly and effectively.
Community engagement: The presence of a police canine unit will foster positive interactions between law enforcement and the community, promoting trust, cooperation and mutual respect.
“The introduction of our canine program underscores our unwavering commitment to proactive policing and community-centered law enforcement,” Byron said. “The highly trained canine unit will serve as an invaluable asset in our ongoing efforts to ensure public safety and enhance the quality of life for all residents of Piqua.”
For more information about the Piqua Police Department, visit piquaoh.gov/police.
