GOOD BOY: Bartlesville K9 officer praised for late night search, arrest
A Bartlesville Police Department K9 officer played a crucial role in apprehending two larceny suspects early Friday morning near Herrick and Penn, with the department celebrating the successful operation on social media.
K9 Havoc, a Belgian Malinois born in Hungary and imported by Von Jager K9 out of Grove, Oklahoma, helped officers locate a suspect who had fled into a wooded area during the incident. The dual-purpose patrol dog also recovered the tools allegedly used in the crime.
Officers responding to the call spotted two men near the scene. Both immediately fled from law enforcement. Police quickly took one suspect into custody, while the second ran into nearby woods.
Havoc alerted his handler to the suspect's location in the wooded area. The suspect surrendered before the K9 was deployed. Officers then used Havoc to locate the tools connected to the alleged larceny.
K9 Units Demonstrate High Success Rates
The successful search highlights the effectiveness of police K9 units. A study by the Lansing Police Department found that K9 teams located suspects with 93% accuracy compared to 59% for two-officer teams. Dogs possess approximately 225 million scent receptors compared to just 5 million in humans, making them particularly effective at locating suspects in concealed areas and tracking evidence that officers might otherwise overlook.
Havoc serves as part of an established K9 program at the Bartlesville Police Department, which has included officers such as Apollo, Diesel, Baron, Atlas, Borg, and Sid. The department maintains multiple K9 officers on duty to serve the community.
Community Investment in K9 Program
The K9 unit represents a significant investment for the department and community. Trained police dogs cost between $9,500 and $20,000 depending on their level of training, breed, and origin, while a fully equipped K9 patrol vehicle runs approximately $75,000. The Bartlesville Police Department K9 Unit relies heavily on community donations, with citizens routinely contributing funds and equipment to strengthen the program and reduce the financial burden on the department.
The arrest comes as Bartlesville addresses property crime rates higher than the national average, with larceny being the most common property crime reported in the city. K9 units trained to locate hidden evidence provide crucial support in solving such cases efficiently.
Under the coordination of Corporal Cody Lemmons, the department's K9 program emphasizes professional training protocols, including teaching dogs to target specific areas like extremities to avoid lethal areas during suspect apprehension.
