K-9

The Georgetown Police Department’s K-9 Unit is currently comprised of two dual purpose German Shepherds and their handlers. K-9 Rocky (Officer Todd Adams) and K-9 Boomer (Officer Shane Breslin) are both fully trained police working dogs skilled in tracking, handler protection, off leash obedience, article, area and building searches and criminal apprehension as well as narcotics detection. 

 K-9 Rocky and Officer Todd Adams are currently assigned to day shift patrol and K-9 Boomer and Officer Shane Breslin are currently assigned to night shift patrol. In addition to their daily patrol duties, both K-9 teams work closely with other local and state agencies as well as the Scott County school system to provide services and assistance to ensure the safety of our citizens and students.  

 The K-9 handler position is a full time position, meaning that K-9 Rocky and K-9 Boomer both live with their handler and their family and are not kenneled at the end of their shift. 

 Officer Adams and Officer Breslin’s patrol vehicles are specially fitted for K-9 use as the backseat area is a platform with an area big enough for a K-9 to move around. The vehicle is also equipped with temperature sensors that create alarms to notify the handler if the vehicle temperature reaches an unsafe point for the K-9 as well as remote door openers to be able to deploy the K-9 in an emergency should the need arise.

 An effective canine program is an essential element to a successful police agency. A properly managed and trained canine program can significantly reduce time spent on calls for service, reduce officer safety risks, reduce risks to the public at large and have a significant effect on reducing crime. Furthermore, it provides community outreach as a conduit to educate the people to the use of canine’s in law enforcement. The police canine’s superior olfactory abilities are capable of performing at a higher degree of efficiency and accuracy when compared to an officer. 

 As a result, the ability to apprehend, track and locate people is a valuable asset to the agency. Obviously the law enforcement professional will never be replaced but the law enforcement canine can certainly provide an added benefit to the law enforcement community and to the community as a whole.