In addition to their human officers, many police departments across the U.S. also employ police K9s.

Receiving specialized training, police K9s act in a variety of roles while working in the departments that they serve. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in Ventura, California, recently added another K9 to their department named Thor.

K9 Thor joins the team

A one-year-old German shepherd, K9 Thor will be working alongside the department’s six other K9 units. Thor and his handler Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Goldner will be operating out of the department’s Thousand Oaks location.

Born in the U.S., Thor finished his training on January 25, 2021, by completing a six-week, 240-hour, Patrol/Narcotics Detection Course given by the Inglis Police Dog Academy.

Thor and Goldner will now begin their work within the Ventura County community.

As a German shepherd, Thor is one of the breeds specifically suited for police work, along with Belgian Malinois, bloodhounds, Dutch shepherds, and Labrador retrievers.

This is due to the German shepherds’ incredible work ethic and willingness to cooperate with their handlers.

Police K9 Training

Before becoming certified as a K9 unit, police dog candidates must undergo rigorous training to ensure that they have the right temperament for the work.

Only the best and most qualified dogs can become K9 units.

As a part of their duties, police K9s fill a variety of roles.

The most well-known of these is in apprehending suspects alongside their human handlers. This often places them in harm’s way and uses the dog’s natural herding instincts, strength, and devotion to their partner.

Other roles that K9 units often fill include as explosive, drug, and contraband detection dogs; search and rescue; and in community outreach programs working with residents in neighborhoods across the country.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office

Established in 1986 with a single dog and handler, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office K9 program has grown to include a total of seven K9s, including Thor.

The team currently operates out of six locations located in Ventura, Fillmore, Ojai, Camarillo, Moorpark, and Thousand Oaks, California.

In addition to patrol duties, all of the K9s with the department are cross-trained in narcotics detection and are on call 24 hours a day.

All of the K9 teams with the department participate in weekly training exercises to ensure that they have the best training, enabling them to best serve their communities.

Welcome, K9 Thor to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office K9 program.

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H/T: KEYT, Custom Canine Unlimited, American Kennel Club, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office