K9 Unit

Wallingford Police Department K-9 Unit

The Wallingford Police Department is proud to maintain a dedicated K-9 Unit that plays an important role in protecting our community. Our highly trained police dogs work alongside their handlers as trusted partners, assisting officers in a wide range of law enforcement operations.

Currently, our K-9 Unit consists of two working dogs, Sevro and Kip. Both canines and their handlers undergo extensive training and continuous certification to ensure they are prepared to assist in many different situations. We are also excited to share that a third K-9 is expected to join the unit by the end of the summer, further strengthening our department’s capabilities.

Police K-9 teams are valuable assets because of their unique skills and abilities. Their responsibilities include:

  • Tracking and locating suspects who have fled from crime scenes

  • Searching for missing or endangered persons, including children and vulnerable individuals

  • Building searches to safely locate suspects hiding in structures

  • Article and evidence searches, helping officers recover discarded weapons or items connected to crimes

  • Narcotics detection, assisting officers in identifying illegal drugs during investigations and traffic stops

  • Officer protection, providing an additional layer of safety during high-risk incidents

  • Community outreach and demonstrations, helping build positive relationships with residents, schools, and community organizations

K-9 teams train regularly to maintain a high level of readiness. Training focuses on obedience, controlled apprehension, scent detection, search techniques, and handler communication. This constant training ensures that our K-9 teams are reliable, disciplined, and safe in the field.

Beyond their operational duties, K-9s are also ambassadors for the department. Sevro and Kip often participate in public demonstrations and community events, where residents can learn more about the important work these dogs perform and the strong bond between the K-9 and their handler.

The Wallingford Police Department is proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by our K-9 Unit. With Sevro and Kip currently serving, and another canine partner expected to join us soon, we remain committed to enhancing public safety and continuing to serve the Wallingford community with excellence.