K-9 Unit

TajinHandlers

The Citrus Heights Police Department K-9 Unit is led by Sergeant Jacob Stadelman and Lieutenant Shaun Gualco. The unit currently has three K-9 handlers partnered with their purebred German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois canines.

  • Officer Alyssa Bragg and K-9 Milo
  • Officer Nathan Culver and K-9 Jack
  • Officer Jordan Rinek and K-9 Kash

Training

All dogs used by the Citrus Heights Police Department undergo a battery of tests and hundreds of hours of training before being certified for use in the Operations Division. The canines and handlers also participate in intensive ongoing training to maintain and enhance their skills. Each canine is cross-trained in criminal apprehension and narcotics detection.

K9 Benefits

It often takes only minutes for a trained K-9 team to check a building or large open area for suspects, where it might take hours and many officers to contain, locate, and apprehend the wanted suspects safely. The trainers tell us, for example, that if we smell a good stew cooking on the stove, a police dog can differentiate the scent of the meat, the potatoes, the vegetables, and even chemical compounds within the food. Even when the K-9 teams are not being used to search for suspects and narcotics, they are great to have as backup on a car stop or any other call involving someone who may not want to cooperate with the police.

It is always amazing that when the K-9 team arrives, the suspects tend to become very cooperative, and they seldom try to run or hide from the officers. The dogs and their handlers occasionally visit local schools and perform demonstrations for the public.

To help support your local K-9 unit, visit the Foothills K9 Association.

Deploying Canine Partners

Handlers typically deploy their canine partners in situations where a violent suspect is fighting or fleeing from police officers. They are also used to locate suspects hiding in heavy vegetation, thick debris, or inside buildings. The dogs’ speed, agility, and heightened sense of smell make them powerful tools for locating and apprehending dangerous criminals. It is also important to note that surrounding communities often request the use of our K9 teams to assist in searches for dangerous suspects.