Redmond Friends of K9 - please visit this website to learn more about this non-profit organization and how you can help support the Police Service Dog program.

K-9 History

In the year 2000 the Redmond Police Department started the process of creating the first canine unit for the department. Detective Dexter Dickson and Lt Jason Rogers were the first officers to begin working on this project.

After many months of hard work and dedication they were able to raise approximately $31,000 through generous donations from various businesses including Dave Hamilton Chevrolet, Petco, Sam Johnson Foundation, Howard Cross Foundation, a multitude of area citizens and help from the Springfield and Bend Police Departments. These funds were placed in the nonprofit accounts of the Friends of Canine.

With these funds and assistance they were able to purchase two trained Police Service Dogs from Adlerhorst Kennels and both dogs were trained and placed on the road as working dogs.

Also during this time Officer Keith Knight came to the Redmond Police Department in mid 2000 and brought with him a trained Police Service Dog, Zeke, with him from the McMinnville Police. After being re-certified through OPCA (Oregon Police Canine Association) Zeke began working as a Redmond Police Canine.

Argo, worked by Lt Jason Rogers, and Dano, worked by Detective Dexter Dickson, worked with the department for many years before their retirement from police work. In their years of service they counted for multiple arrests of hidden suspects, countless building searches, recovering stolen property, a deterrent to further criminal activity by mere presence, and many other areas of assistance to the police department and the citizens of Redmond. During this time Zeke was also retired and ended his police career after assisting the police department and the city of Redmond.

Current K-9 Teams

K-9 Sam

In May of 2002 Redmond Police traveled to Adlerhorst Kennels again to select a new Police Service Dog. At that time canine "Sam" was chosen from many possibilities. At the time he was selected he was 20 months old and was trained and certified under OPCA standards.

As a police service dog he is trained in tracking/trailing suspects, evidence finds, building searches, area searches, and handler/citizen protection work. In this capacity K-9 Sam has been deployed over 100 times and has currently over 20 captures of suspects and 6 article/evidence finds including stolen ATV's and purses.

Sam continues to work with his current handler Officer Knight in this capacity today.

K-9 Rocky

In mid 2005 the department purchased another Police Service Dog to help replace the recent retiring dogs. The department purchased Rocky and sent Officer Brad McMurrian to training. After certifying through OPCA Rocky hit the road as a Police Service Dog.

In his short time on the road Rocky has several suspect captures and recovered stolen property. He continues to aid the department and the citizens of Redmond when on patrol.

K-9 Abby

K9 Abby is an eight year old Black Labrador mix. She was rescued from the Multnomah Humane Society when she was a puppy and trained by the Oregon Department of Corrections to be a Narcotics Detection Canine. Abby worked in the Salem area for a local parole and probation department before the program was stopped. Abby then went to work for the Prineville Police Department where her training continued. Abby certified with the Oregon Police Canine Association as a narcotics detection dog trained to find the odor of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. Abby worked for over three years for the City of Prineville Police Department where she maintained her training and certification.

In November 2002, Abby came to the Redmond Police Department where she worked in patrol with Officer Tracy Miller and then Officer Brad McMurrian. Abby continued her training and maintained her Oregon Police Canine Association certification during the time she was assigned to these officers.

In December 2004, Abby was assigned to work with Officer Cory Chase in patrol. Abby and Officer Chase received 160 hours of Narcotics Detection Canine training from the Portland Police Bureau's Drugs and Vice Division. Officer Chase and Abby have documented over 250 hours of training, over 300 controlled finds and over 50 finds during actual field deployments.

During her career, Abby has participated in several vehicle searches, building searches and area searches. Abby has proven herself very reliable in locating the odor of hidden narcotics, including but not limited to the following documented finds: secured storage units, concealed inside walls, buried in the ground, hidden in tree branches, inside hidden compartments in vehicles and stashed inside vehicle engine compartments.

Recently Officer Chase was re-assigned to the Street Crimes Unit as a Detective. Abby and Detective Chase continue to work as a team on the Street Crimes Unit where they have continued their efforts to find narcotics throughout Central Oregon. Abby and Detective Chase recently located a pound of marijuana, nearly a half pound of cocaine and several hundred dollars in cash during a traffic stop. Abby continues to prove herself as a very reliable and valued member of the Redmond Police Department serving the citizens of Redmond.