Phoenix Police Department held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of new police dog kennels and facilities at its Southern Command Station on Tuesday.

The Phoenix Police Tactical Support Bureau K-9 unit began 42 years ago with the help of federal grants which allowed Phoenix police to acquire two narcotics dogs and a year later, two explosive-detection dogs. Now the largest K-9 unit in the state, it consists of three sergeants, 17 officers or handlers, and 17 police dogs.

The ceremony, which began at 9 a.m., introduced plans for new indoor, climate-controlled kennels, an outdoor dog run with high-quality artificial turf and a stainless-steel dog washing station.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego attended and said the outdoor dog run will also include a splash pad, “great for our dogs in this heat,” she said. 

“The kennel will provide modern and efficient housing for our canine partners as well as a place for the dogs to relax, play and stay when their human family members are on vacation,” Gallego said. 

The splash pad, by way of a granite memorial plaque, will also honor Bane, the Phoenix K-9 killed during the arrest of a driver involved in a high-speed pursuit in Phoenix in April 2018.

Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams said the update was much needed as the existing kennels have been in place since the start of the unit in 1978. 

“The new kennels will ensure that our dogs have a safe place to be, housed in state-of-the-art equipment completely funded by private donations,” Williams said. 

Williams said proper funding would not have been attainable without Brycon Construction, Arrington Watkins Architects and the Phoenix Police Foundation. The three organizations helped facilitate more than $180,000 worth of donations, Williams said. 

Tim Thomas, president of the Phoenix Police Foundation, said the organizations’ time and generosity made the financial goal a reality. 

“This is really a perfect example of a private-public partnership coming together and making something wonderful happen,” Thomas said. “K-9s are an important component of policing and a critical investment.” 

Steve Kerin, chief estimator with Brycon Construction, said Brycon agreed to facilitate the project two years ago. However, it was not approved by the Phoenix City Council until Jan. 8. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the construction date back multiple times, Kerin said, so he is thrilled it’s finally here. 

The ceremony was complete with a K-9 demonstration courtesy of K-9 Riso and his handler, Phoenix police Officer James Smoke. Kerin served as the “violent criminal” for the demonstration. 

“I will not go down,” Kerin said. 

For the first demonstration, Smoke placed an arm guard on Kerin for a standard apprehension. The K-9 pulled the guard off in less than two minutes. Kerin was still standing.

Next, Kerin put on a full-body bite suit, equipment that Thomas said officers routinely use to train the canines. This time the demonstration was conducted by Officer Dan Bill and his dog, Lumpi, who took Kerin down in the end.

“Steve had a bet with all of us that no canine could take him down,” Thomas said. “He just lost.” 

Reach the reporter Jamie Landers at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @jamielanderstv

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