The West Fargo Police Department is excited to announce the newest member of the K-9 Unit, K-9 Hondo. K-9 Hondo is a 19-month old Belgian Malinois from the Netherlands. K-9 Hondo and his handler, Officer Brock Ackerman, are certified in narcotics, narcotic detection, suspect apprehension, tracking and article recovery. 

"Our K-9 Unit continues to evolve to meet the growing needs of our community," said Chief Denis Otterness. "K-9 Hondo and Officer Ackerman will continue to provide the highest level of service to the residents of West Fargo."

K-9 Hondo and Officer Ackerman will complete a three month training process in West Fargo. K-9 Hondo received an additional three months of training before being paired with Officer Ackerman. K-9 Hondo replaces K-9 Brewtus who retired early due to a medical condition unrelated to his work as a police K-9. 

The West Fargo Police Department has four K-9’s and handlers within the unit, three assigned to the Patrol Division and one assigned to the Community Outreach Programs and Services Unit. The three K-9’s assigned to the Patrol Division were deployed over 200 times in 2021. The K-9 Unit is invaluable in protecting officers, locating drugs, tracking suspects, strengthening relationships and participating in community events. When not at work, the K-9s live with their handlers and are a part of their families. More information on the West Fargo Police Department’s K-9 Unit is available online.