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K-9 Unit

Canton K-9's
Canton Police Department K-9 Unit
Officer Gary Haft, K-9 Trainer
K-9@ci.canton.oh.us

The Canton Police Department Canine Unit has proven to be a great asset to the Law Enforcement endeavor and an outstanding service mechanism to the citizens of Canton, Ohio.

The purpose of a professional police canine is to reduce the jeopardy to the Police officer and to better enforce the laws of the community. The canine is a psychological deterrent to the lawbreaker, but at the same time the canine must develop a positive image in the public eye. Although the canine will never replace the police officer, the canine is a unique and sophisticated tool, which enhances law enforcement performance. Along with society, Law Enforcement is constantly changing and it is necessary for departments to be progressive and proactive in order to ensure for the future, the comprehensive quality of law enforcement that is available today. Statistics have proven that “canine” offers an alternative to deadly force with less injuries and assaults on police Officers. A canine can be recalled, but a bullet cannot.

The Canton Police Canine Unit has proven to be just that, a professional unit with a purpose of service to its citizens.

Each Police Canine team is trained in the tactical application of the canine before ever being placed in an operational status. Canine handlers are able to assist in formulating plans for action of effective canine applications, based upon the immediate circumstances of any given situation. Examples of Situations in which canine teams might properly be used are: ( 1) building searches; (2) tracking of suspects; (3) searches in large open areas; ( 4) evidence searches; ( 5) crowd control; (6) lost persons; (7) narcotic searches. Not only are the canine teams used in the area of law enforcement, but also in public demonstrations. The Canine Unit has given demonstrations to public and private schools, businesses and civic organizations. On three occasions, the Canine Unit has sponsored the United States Police Canine Association training seminar, with more than 150 Officers from allover the U.S. and Canada in attendance. The Unit has also sponsored A Region Five USPCA Dog Trial and Narcotic Trial.

In 2004, Canton PD K-9's assisted with 6,771 calls for service.

The support both from the City officials and the general public has been well deserved and most appreciated. With continued support, the Canton Police Department Canine Unit will continue it success in serving and protecting our citizens.

The K-9 Trainer

In January 2002, Officer Gary Haft was selected by the Department as the new K-9 Trainer, replacing retired Officer Rick Cook.

Officer Haft was one of the original K-9 handlers for the city in 1985. He has worked three (3) dogs in his career; Smokey, Scratch Daddy, and Ranger. Scratch Daddy was one of the city's first cross-trained narcotics dogs. Officer Haft has received many awards and citations including Blue Coat of the Year in 1986. Prior to becoming the K-9 trainer, he worked in the Police Department ID Bureau.

 

Click on an image for a larger picture

Achat
Achat
Achat's Handler 		Gunny
Gunny
Gunny's Handler 		tnmaxwell9.jpg - 1567 Bytes
Maxwell
Maxwell's Handler
Pounder
Pounder
Pounder's Handler 		tnbam10.jpg - 1683 Bytes
Bam
Bam's Handler

      

Achat: Steven Swank has been a Patrol Officer since 1993. In 1997 he became a K-9 handler and worked with his first dog Bear, a patrol dog, until 2002. Officer Swank has since trained Achat and has been working with this K-9 since completing K-9 School in the Spring of 2002.

Gunny: Gunny's handler, Officer John Clark has been a police officer since 1985 and joined the K-9 Unit in 1994. His first dog, K-9 Magnum was a German Shepherd and worked the streets for seven years, receiving an award of excellence in K-9 Basic and a rating of PD-1 from the USPCA. His current dog, Gunny, is a sable German Shepherd, who received an award of excellence in K-9 Basic, PD1 and PD2 from the USPCA.

Maxwell: Maxwell is Officer Charles Saler's second K-9 and has been serving for five years. This K-9 team has located and apprehended as many as seven suspects during a single residential break-in, and as many as five suspects in a single business break-in. K-9 Maxwell has completed tracks that had aged over an hour prior to his arrival, and completed tracks that took an hour in length. Both resulted in criminal apprehensions. At home, Maxwell is known as the "Big Baby" as being petted is the only thing that interests him. However, on the job, he is a top dog. Officer Saler, a Marine Corps veteran, is a seventeen year veteran of the Canton PD who was assigned to the criminal Intelligence/Vice Unit and the FBI Violent Crimes and Fugitive Task Force. He currently serves in the Patrol Division, on the SWAT Team, Mobile Field Force, Department Honor Guard and as a Hostage Negotiator.

Pounder: Officer Darrell Pierson and K-9 Pounder have been a team since May, 1997. Officer Pierson and his working police dog spend most of their time responding to routine calls and crimes of violence. When off duty, K-9 Pounder likes to play as hard as he works. His favorite toy is a stuffed Harley Davidson Oil Can that squeaks when he bites it.

Bam: Officer Mike Talkington joined the Patrol Division of the Canton PD in May, 1996. K-9 Bam, a German Shepherd, was donated by an individual in Pennsylvania. Officer Talkington and K-9 Bam went through 14 weeks of training and were State certified as a team on April 28, 2002, for Criminal Apprehensions, Canine Control, Canine Searches, Tracking and Article Search.


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