K-9 Unit
The Seguin Police Department K-9 Division handles a wide variety of tasks in protecting the citizens of Seguin. Currently, this division is comprised of 4 specially trained officers and their K-9 companions.
Our K-9 Units have proven to be an asset in the daily operations of the department. We currently have two dual purpose dogs (Narcotics Detection / Patrol Service Dog) and two single purpose Narcotics Detection Dog. The K-9 teams work 10-hour shifts throughout the week/weekend, but they are available 24/7 by call out if necessary.
Meet the Team!
Officer Deagen & K9 Cooper
K9 Cooper is a 9-year-old Labrador from Leander, TX. K9 Cooper was rescued from an animal shelter by the Canine Academy in Leander due to his high drive. In 2017 K9 Cooper began his career with Seguin PD, where he and his handler Officer Deagen, were assigned to the Patrol Division. K9 Cooper and Officer Deagen are currently assigned to the Guadalupe County Narcotics TaskForce. K9 Cooper is certified through the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) in Narcotics Detection. He has assisted Officer Deagen with numerous narcotic seizures and arrest within Guadalupe County and surrounding counties.
Officer Maresh & K9 Cirix
K9 Cirix is a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois from Holland. In 2015 K9 Cirix began his career with the Victoria PD until 2020, where he and his handler Officer Maresh, were assigned to the Patrol Division. In early 2020 K9 Cirix was put into service at the Seguin PD and assigned to the patrol division with Officer Maresh. K9 Cirix and Officer Maresh are currently assigned to the Guadalupe County Narcotics Task Force. Since beginning his career K9 Cirix has been certified through the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) in both Patrol and Narcotics Detection. K9 Cirix and Officer Maresh placed 1st for the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association Nationals Police Service Dog in 2018 and 2019.
Officer Trejo & K9 Ayax
K9 Ayax is a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois from Mexico. In 2018 K9 Ayax began his career with the Victoria PD, where he and his handler Officer Trejo, were assigned to the Special Crimes Unit, as well as the Patrol and Special Operations Divisions. In early 2022 K9 Ayax retired from Victoria PD and gifted to Officer Trejo. In November 2022, K9 Ayax returned to service at Seguin PD in the patrol division with Officer Trejo. K9 Ayax is certified through the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) in both Patrol and Narcotics Detection. During his K9 career, Ayax seized 70+ pounds of illegal narcotics, including Marijuana, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin and Ecstasy, as well as approximately $55,000 in illegal monies.
Officer Soto & K9 Mike
K9 Mike is a 5-year-old Dutch Shepherd from Czechoslovakia. In 2019 K9 Mike began his career with Seguin PD, where he and his handler at the time were assigned to the Guadalupe County Narcotics Task Force, as well as the Patrol Division. Officer Soto and K9 have been assigned to the evening Patrol Division since November 2022. K9 Mike has been certified through the National Narcotics Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) in Narcotics Detection.
Tasks
The K-9 officers and their canine counterparts are frequently called upon to complete a variety of tasks, primarily during in-progress incidents encountered by patrol officers. Their services include:
- Criminal apprehension
- Building searches
- Area searches
- Evidence detection
- Narcotics detection
- Tracking missing persons
- Tracking fleeing suspects
- Crowd control
- Protecting the lives of their handlers and other law enforcement officers
Annual Certification
Each K-9 is assigned to an officer and lives with that officer and his or her family. In order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the K-9 unit, continuous education is a top priority. Each K-9 and handler is trained and certified annually to meet the nationally recognized standards. Reliability and consistency in job performance is very important to our K-9 Units. Their ongoing proficiency training ensures each K-9 will act and perform according to expectations and standards, and that each handler knows how to elicit the best work from the dog. All handlers and their K-9s consistently exceed the number of expected hours for monthly maintenance training. The Seguin Police Department K-9 team literally saves hundreds of man hours each year searching for narcotics, criminal suspects, and missing persons. Our canines, with the use of their enhanced sense of smell, can search a location in a fraction of the time that it would take an officer or search team, therefore allowing our resources to be back in full service in a timely manner.
Community Service
Our K-9 Unit not only works diligently to provide the citizens of Seguin the protection they deserve, they continuously work to maintain a favorable relationship within the city by actively participating in community events. This team spends numerous hours within our local schools educating our youth about drugs and prevention. They also work with many community groups and provide general K-9 demonstrations whenever possible.
