This summer, the St. Louis Park Police Department welcomed its first K-9 to the team. Maverick, a one-year-old German Shepherd from Slovakia, recently completed a rigorous 12-week training with his new handler, Officer Matt McNeely. Officer McNeely has worked full time with the department since 2019 and recognized early on the benefits of bringing a K-9 program to the city.

“I didn’t know I wanted to become a K-9 handler until one of my first calls for service,” McNeely said. “A K-9 was called in for support from a neighboring department, and I was fascinated by the dog’s ability to effectively and efficiently resolve the situation. After that, I knew that being a K-9 handler was something I wanted to do.”

The experience inspired Officer McNeely to research and interview other agencies with K-9s to see how he could make a St. Louis Park K-9 program a reality. He submitted a detailed proposal to the department highlighting the benefits of a K-9 program, including increased officer safety and the ability to quickly handle calls about explosive threats and suspects who have fled the scene. Department officials agreed with his assessment and thought McNeely would be a natural fit for the city’s first K-9 handler.

Before finalizing the decision to add a K-9 program, the city also reached out to public stakeholders and community groups for feedback and to address any concerns.

A new partnership forms

Maverick and Officer McNeely have been together 24/7 since the day they met in order to establish their relationship and Maverick’s understanding of who’s in charge.

“In the short amount of time we’ve been together, we’ve become extremely close,” McNeely said. “The bond between us is something I can’t describe.” Every year, Officer McNeely and Maverick will attend a multi-day course to get recertified in patrol work and explosive detection to ensure top performance and accountability.

K-9 program helps fill a need in the west metro

Maverick’s role will be to assist with tracking individuals and detecting explosives. If someone is fleeing by foot or goes missing, or if a bomb threat is called into a school or anywhere else, Maverick and McNeely will be there to help.

There are a limited number of K-9s in the west metro trained to detect explosives. Most of the police K-9s detect narcotics.

“By starting this program, we are helping to fill a void in the area,” said Sgt. Dennis Hagen. “Now we can help other communities as well as our own.”

Maverick will also have a big role in community outreach and public education. You’ll see him throughout the city on patrol and at events, helping to build relationships with residents. Starting next year, you can request a K-9 officer demonstration for your community group or event by emailing Sgt. Dennis Hagen at dhagen@stlouisparkmn.gov.

Funding the K-9 program and looking ahead

Initial program costs were funded through donations. Ongoing donations will be needed to cover vet bills, dog food and supplies, and recertification. “I’m hoping to build a reputable and well-known K-9 program in the west metro,” McNeely said. “I want to show our department and city the benefits that K-9s provide in keeping officers and the public safe. If a dangerous criminal is running through our neighborhoods, there is no better tool to safely locate them than a K-9.”

Keep an eye out for Officers McNeely and Maverick as they begin their patrol together early next year. For more information about the program and ways you can support it, visit the K-9 program page.