Police K-9 TeamS

The Florence Police Department K9 Unit consists of two highly trained canines. The canine’s primary responsibility is to assist the officers in the detection and deterrence of crime. The narcotic canine’s responsibility is to assist in the detection of illegal controlled substances. The patrol canine’s responsibility is to track and locate suspects involved in committing various crimes, protect officers against violence and using force if necessary to gain compliance against combative individuals. The patrol canine is also utilized in locating missing or lost individuals. Both canines are involved in community events where the public can meet both canines. It is important for the public to know that the canines are here to help them.



PATROL K9 “BRASSO” AND OFFICER KEN LARSON

Officer Ken Larson began his career with the Florence Police Department in 1990 as a Reserve Police Officer and was later hired as a full time officer in 1993. In 1995 Officer Ken Larson was assigned to K9 duty. Officer Ken Larson holds a Senior Master K9 Handler Certificate from ASCT.

Officer Larson worked the streets of Florence for several years with a K9 named “Lim”. When Lim retired, another K9 needed to be recruited. After months of training, Officer Ken Larson of the Florence Police Department was fortunate to acquire another K9 from donations made by businesses and members of the community.

It was from those gifts from the community that K9 Brasso joined the Florence Police Department and partnered with Officer Larson. “Brasso” is a longhaired German Shepherd who started life out in the cold and snowy land of Czechoslovakia in June of 2003. He was brought to the United States via Tarheel K9 in North Carolina with great aspirations of becoming a police dog. K9 Brasso received certification through ASCT (American Society of Canine Trainers) under the watchful eye of Senior Master Instructor Bob Hood from Coos Bay Oregon.

During the course of certification, K9 Brasso had to demonstrate the ability to track individuals in the most extreme conditions within a specified time period. K9 Brasso is also certified in article searching, suspect apprehension, officer protection and building searches for suspects.

K9 Brasso has been working the streets of Florence for the past 4 years and has been instrumental in apprehending over 50 suspects. He can be seen greeting the people that come near his now beloved police car.

PATROL K9 “DALE” AND OFFICER ROB MERRYMAN

Officer Rob Merryman has been with the Florence Police Department for just over five years. Officer Merryman and Dale, a pitbull and bullmastiff mixed breed, were certified as a narcotics detection K-9 team in 2008.

Officer Merryman and Dale attended the seven week Washington State Corrections K-9 training center at McNeil Island Washington. During this training, Officer Merryman along with four other K-9 students were assigned their dogs and began training them to detect marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. Dale is trained to search buildings, vehicles, and open areas such as yards and around buildings. Officer Merryman and Dale received the highest score in the class.

Dale was rescued from the Lewis County floods in 2008. He was found tied to a house porch near the rising waters during the floods. He was taken to the rescue shelter in Lewis County where no one came to claim him. The K-9 school coordinator then went to the shelter to find any dogs that may fit the profile for a narcotics detection dog. She was looking for a friendly, healthy and surefooted dog that had a high ball drive. The ball drive is extremely important because the tennis ball is the dogs reward when finding narcotics in the field. Dale had the highest ball drive in the class giving him high motivation to find the narcotics in the field.

Officer Merryman and Dale have been in service for a year now and have searched countless cars during traffic stops and worked with several other Law Enforcement agencies serving search warrants. Dale should be eager to serve the City Of Florence for five to seven years and continue to help the Florence Police Department and other agencies in the area in the fight against drugs.