A police dog, also known as K-9, is a dog specifically trained to assist law enforcement officers. The two common classifications of police K-9s are patrol and detection. Patrol dogs are used to protect officers, suspect apprehension, area or building clearance and security in sensitive or controlled areas. Detection dogs are used to find narcotics, weapons or explosives.
In general, K-9 training takes up to six months for basic training and around two years for completion. A K-9 can be called to conduct a search at a moment’s notice, so it’s important to ensure the dogs are always sharp and current on training and certification.This means training every day, including quick sweeps during shifts. Lexington County’s first female K-9 handler, Deputy Candi Shealy, describes her position with the K-9 unit as the most physically demanding and time-consuming job she’s ever had. When she begins training she typically trains every Tuesday for about 12 hours. She said when she has a new dog, she’ll train every day.
Having a K-9 isn’t a normal 8-5 job – it’s an all-day every day thing.
“When I wake up, I’m tending to him. Before I go to bed, I’m tending to him, so our dog goes home with us,” Shealy said. “They are with us 24/7.”
Shealy has to maintain the dog’s health and kennel environment.
Shealy said K-9 handling has been a great experience for her. It’s challenging at times, but she accepts the challenge and succeeds. If you are looking for a new experience that will be both challenging and rewarding, check out our current opportunities at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.