ASHLEY KANE
CHIEF OF POLICE
ADRIAN (POPULATION 1,182)

As Chief of Police in Adrian, I started to see the growing need for a K-9 program, not just to help with drug enforcement, but to track down people who flee traffic stops, assist in mental health situations, or help find missing kids. While there was no funding budgeted, the city supported my effort to pursue an alternative path. I committed to fundraising and quickly saw the community step up in a big way.

With donations from local residents and businesses in the K-9 field, we were able to get the program off the ground. The city received a donated Belgian Malinois, originally named Prosch, from Loucyn Belgian Malinois in California. Ed Van Buren, owner of Code 2 K9 Services LLC, helped arrange transportation for Prosch, now named Ghost, from California to Omaha. His company also handles certification for our K-9. On Jan. 25, 2024, I picked her up and officially started the journey with K-9 Ghost.

Retired U.S. Air Force veteran and K-9 handler Curtis Hendel stepped in to assist with training. I continue to spend about 20 off-duty, unpaid hours each week working with Ghost to maintain her skills. Each year, she must be recertified in her trained areas, which include bite work, search, and narcotics detection (specifically meth, cocaine, and heroin).

Ghost has been exactly what we hoped for — driven, capable, and also great at community events. When I first pitched the idea to the City Council, I figured the full cost would be around $100,000 for the dog, training, and equipment. Thanks to all the community support, we made it happen for closer to $15,000.

K-9s like Ghost not only deter crime but build trust between law enforcement and the people we serve. They’re an investment we hope never to need, but when a K-9 officer is needed, they’re invaluable.

As for Ghost, she’ll keep working as long as she’s able. When it’s time to retire, she’ll come home with me, where she can destroy as many toys as she wants and eat plenty of hot dogs. In the meantime, the hope is to continue to fundraise for the next K-9 to replace Ghost and to keep the program going within Adrian.

BEN ZENDER
POLICE CHIEF
MOUNDS VIEW (POPULATION 12,782)

Mounds View’s K-9 program began taking shape in 2011, when the police department started exploring how a K-9 unit could enhance public safety. With support from a grant through the St. Paul Police Canine Foundation, the department formally launched the program that November after receiving City Council approval. Officer Nick Erickson was selected as the city’s first K-9 handler, and K-9 Niko came on board following a 12-week training program with the St. Paul Police Department.

In the years since, the department has expanded and refined its K-9 operations with a focus on maintaining two active teams. K-9 Grizz joined the force in 2018, partnered with Sergeant Brian Schultes. In 2022, following K-9 Niko’s retirement, Officer Alex Aase took on the role of handler for K-9 Ace. Ace’s training was completed through Minnesota Canine Consulting and Red Team K9. Niko passed away in April 2025 after a long and successful career, including hundreds of successful deployments.

The department’s K-9s assist with a wide range of duties, including tracking suspects, searching for evidence, detecting narcotics, and protecting their handlers. They’re also highly visible in the community, attending school visits, church events, city festivals, and public demonstrations. Combined, K-9 Grizz and K-9 Ace have deployed 223 times, resulting in only three bites, or 1.3% of all deployments. Officers say the dogs are often key to de-escalating tense situations, even if those moments are hard to measure.

Mounds View’s dogs are typically imported from Eastern Europe and selected for their intelligence, obedience, confidence, and ability to focus in distracting environments. Initial costs for a dog and training total about $18,500, with ongoing care and maintenance averaging $4,500 annually.

Officers who want to become handlers go through a competitive selection process that includes interviews, physical testing, and prior experience working with canines. Training with a new K-9 takes about three months and covers skills like bite work, building searches, obedience, and stability under pressure. Once certified, teams continue training throughout the year.

Most K-9s retire between ages seven and nine, and when they do, they usually go home for good, living out their retirement with their handler as a pet.