Man’s best friend, at home, and in the field, the Guam Police Department’s K-9 unit plays a crucial role in keeping our community safe.

“First of all, our K-9 unit comes in for many different factors: we have detection for drugs and explosives, apprehension of suspects or possible persons of interest, as well as tracking missing people,” said Officer Jesse San Nicolas.

San Nicolas is a certified K-9 handler for GPD, working alongside his partner, Kuro, a nine-year-old Belgian Malinois.

“Kuro is a dual purpose working dog. She does both patrol and explosive detection,” said San Nicolas. 

Before they can hit the field, both K-9s and their handlers undergo continuous and rigorous training.

“So, all of our handlers receive certifications from K9 Working Dogs International,” added San Nicolas. “Each handler has to undergo a minimum of 80 hours of a basic handler course and then every year we must sustain [our certification] by going and getting recertified. Each dog, by law, must maintain 16 hours per month to keep the certification.”

Daily conditioning includes agility, obedience, and detection drills, strengthening their skills and their bond.

“So, that bonding and imprinting, handler to K9, is very, very much important,” said San Nicolas. 

Even off-duty, Kuro’s unique temperament shines.

“For a patrol dog, her temperament is very easy. Easy to handle as a handler,” he added. “She does, in fact, get to play, but her play type is a little bit different from your average home pets.”

Kuro recently made headlines when she went missing, sparking a community-wide search.

“On the initial discovery when she went missing, someone reported that they had her at their home,” said San Nicolas. “We got her back. She was in perfect health. No injuries, nothing of that subject. And she’s doing great right now.”

To ensure the safety of these highly intelligent animals, GPD has strict measures in place.

“With the dogs we do hourly checks, obviously they’re with us 24/7. We do inspections of each K9 handler’s residence as well to ensure that the dogs are safe of course for their welfare,” added San Nicolas. “We make sure that they’re properly outfitted with proper kennelling systems.”

With Kuro safe and sound, the Guam Police Department’s K-9 unit remains an essential part in enforcing the law.

Efforts are reportedly underway to officially recognize these furry heroes as officers for their service.