Explosive Detection K-9 Buster and Officer Jose Bosque locate a suspicious package during training at Joker Marchant Stadium recently.
Lakeland Police Canine (K-9) Unit
The LPD K-9 Unit has a rich history of pride, loyalty, and commitment. The Unit has received numerous awards for work performed on the street and in competitions. The Unit was founded in the 1970's and consisted of four members. Today, the K-9 Unit operates with eight handlers and nine canines.
Every handler has a working dog that is both Patrol and Narcotics certified through FDLE and the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). One handler, Officer Jose Bosque, also has a second dog that is explosives certified.
Officer Rob Manrow and K-9 Bask go through obedience training.
Every year, the handlers and their canines travel to the Region 1 USPCA Canine Trials for competition and certification. In 2002 and 2003, the LPD K-9 Unit won the four-man overall competition. The handlers spend countless hours on and off-duty to ensure that our Canine Unit continues with the excellent tradition of being a premier K-9 Unit.
In the March 2004 Region 1 Trials, Officer Jose Bosque and K-9 Kye finished 4th Overall out of over 30 teams and Officer Ryan Back and K-9 Neo finished as Top Novice as this was their first K-9 Trial they had attended.
The patrol vehicle of choice for single dog handlers is the Ford Crown Victoria. It is specially fitted for K-9 use as the backseat area is now 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.
For any further questions, you can contact K-9 Supervisor Sergeant Hans Lehman at hans.lehman@lakelandgov.net
Officer Leanne Bennett and plays with K-9 Keito after passing the state test recently.
Officers Ted Sealey. Robert Manrow and K-9 Bear work through a handler protection routine.
