Policing in partnership with our community

K-9: HISTORY

For most of the Madison Police Department’s history, the department had no K9 unit or police dogs. Starting in the late 1980’s a handful of officers engaged in some trial use of dogs, introducing the department to the benefits of police K9’s. In the 1990’s, a number of MPD officers assigned to the Dane County drug unit had dogs trained in narcotics detection. It wasn’t until 2004, however, that the department was able to form a dedicated K9 unit serving patrol.

LATE 1980's

Officer Bill Murphy and Hank

Hank was a chocolate Labrador trained in narcotics detection. He worked with Officer Bill Murphy in MPD’s special operations section from 1989 to 1992. Hank was also trained to find evidence, as shown below). Hank’s biggest case was an alert on a storage locker that led to the seizure of $35,000 and 242 pounds of marijuana.

Hank was also trained to locate evidence (anything with human scent); here he has located a stolen rifle.

Officer Frank Chandler and Jake

Jake was a bloodhound trained to track people. He worked with Officer Frank Chandler in MPD’s special operations section from 1991 to 1992. After the focus of the special operations section turned primarily to illegal drugs, Jake was retired from MPD. He was donated to a department in Maryland where he went on to have a very good career.

Hank was also trained to locate evidence (anything with human scent); here he has located a stolen rifle.

1990's

Officer Dave Parrell and Oby

Oby was a black lab trained in narcotics detection. He worked with Officer Dave Parrell in the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force from 1992 to 1999. During that time he was responsible for the seizure of more than 80 pounds of marijuana, almost two pounds of cocaine, more than a pound of cocaine base, and more than $16,000 in cash.

Hank was also trained to locate evidence (anything with human scent); here he has located a stolen rifle.

Officer Ann Lehner and Sam

Sam was a black lab trained in narcotics detection. He worked with Officer Ann Lehner in the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force from 1997 to 1999. Sam was responsible for the seizure of more than 12 pounds of marijuana, more than a pound of cocaine/cocaine base, and over $50,000 in cash.

Officer Theresa McKenzie and Whitney

Whitney was a black lab trained in narcotics detection. She worked with Officer Theresa McKenzie in the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force from 1994 to 1996. Whitney was responsible for the seizure of more than 17 pounds of marijuana, more than a pound of cocaine base, and more than $12,000 in cash. Whitney won the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association “K9 Rookie of the Year” award in 1994. Two days prior to her retirement (due to an injury), Whitney alerted on a storage locker containing 12 pounds of marijuana.

Officer Chris Boyd and Arno

Arno was a dutch shepard who was MPD’s first dual-purpose dog. He was trained in narcotics detection and patrol functions (building searches, tracking, apprehensions, etc.). Arno served with Off. Boyd from 1999—2006, first in the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force and later in patrol. Arno proved a great asset to the department and the community, and paved the way for the formation of MPD’s patrol K9 unit. Arno won the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association “Meritorious Narcotics Find of the Year” award three times (2001, 2002 and 2004).