CrimeCon 2025 “Crime-Fighting Canines: Live K-9 Demonstrations with Aurora PD“
**Disclaimer: I’m well aware that police dogs have been used against oppressed people and those participating in peaceful protests. This recap is only about the demonstrations at CrimeCon and does not reflect the long history of dogs used in military or law enforcement.**
Presenters:
Bill, Jax, Magnum, Martigan, and Cyrus (and their human handlers who very likely have names, too).
Seeing another K-9 demonstration was high on my priority list for CrimeCon again. The last time I got to see them was in Florida. I had no clue what to expect of Aurora, Colorado. I didn’t even know I was going to Aurora because the event was billed as Denver. I know one thing about Aurora and it’s probably the same thing anyone else not part of the region knows, and that thing was the kind of news that gets covered by CrimeCon speakers. Hearing only about a movie theater and mall, I honestly thought the town was no bigger than ones near me, populations around 10,000-20,000 with police departments around 20 officers. But, Aurora is a city of over 400,000 with 748 police officers. No wonder they have a police department large enough to have eight K-9s in their unit.
If you don’t have a personal fondness or attachment to K-9s, seeing bite or search demonstrations might seem pretty much the same regardless of department. The difference is in the details. Those details are the personalities of each individual dog. I don’t care if other people believe animals don’t have souls and don’t care about which human feeds them. Those people have never had a pet companion or service animal who treated them with more attention than any other. CrimeCon knows how important animals are and featured MaxFund—a non-profit organization established to provide adoption services and medical care for injured, abused, and abandoned animals—as one of this year’s charities to promote.
The human officers did have lively personalities as well. They have to since being part of K-9 means a lot of public relations for civilians of all ages. If you’re an asshole to adults or cold to children, you’re not meant for this unit. These officers are funny and entertaining in their presentations which include answering the known frequently asked questions before they’re even asked as well as taking new questions from the crowd. They know their unit’s dogs exceptionally well spanning their best to worst qualities (not that there is anything other than fantastic about these creatures). The handlers razzed each other humorously in between demos inside the “field” of linoleum surrounded by hundreds of strangers.
Of the eight dogs in this unit, Cyrus, Magnum, and Martigan are the oldest and most experienced. The furry detectives are dual-purpose (trained in two distinct disciplines). Scent training could involve explosive detection, money, or illegal drugs. The scents used in explosives training aren’t live bombs, but rather the elements used in making them. Narcotics training includes, but is not limited to, the most common substances trafficked: heroin, meth, and cocaine. Besides scent detection, these dogs are also trained in apprehension (what other Orlando PD called bite certification).
One reason to see multiple departments giving demonstrations is because each of them has their own protocols. There in Aurora or Denver (where was I?) the dogs not in the ring were led by their handlers around the large crowd for people to get personal greetings. They even walked beyond the front row which was especially kind. I was back in a third row and was able to offer loving pets to a dog who has probably worked harder and loved harder than I ever could.
At one point, a handler paused while he was speaking in order to look at his phone. He asked another officer if he’d left his car running. Then, the speaker explained what had happened. Not only are the K-9 vehicles fit with special doors that can be easily opened by the handlers, but they have some other exceptional amenities you won’t get in your average Chevy. There are equipped with heat sensors and alert several people when it gets too hot until someone checks on it.
Many civilians know that K-9s are often Belgian Malinois or German Shepherds. The commands are traditionally in French or German. Before you get any ideas, even if you know German and yell out, “Platz!” a working dog like these will not obey you. They know who their handlers are. So why are they still trained in these languages? It’s two-part in reasoning. The first is simply tradition. The second is because it’s unlikely their handlers will say those commands in everyday conversation.
The audience was polled in regards to a sensitive question. Can a handler use lethal force to defend their K-9 partner?
All the air left me and my stomach dropped when I heard the officer say, “All of you with your hands up, I’m sorry to say, you’re all wrong.” He said he appreciated that our hearts were in the right place, but no, they can’t try to save the dogs. The dogs are considered police department equipment until they retire at which point, they are usually sold to their handler for a dollar.
When it comes to crimes against other animals, the K-9 Unit is not involved. Those investigations go to the Animal Control Division.
I noticed on the website one of the dogs who wasn’t at CrimeCon. None other than a dog named Krypto! This one happens to be black not white or blond. I didn’t notice Superman anywhere, but Clark Kent might have been around. This Krypto fights crimes against children. If you want to see how humans are using technology to fight back too, check out my other CrimeCon coverage.
Links:
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AmberUnmasked.com and Vodka O'Clock Podcast. Author of The Farrah Wethers Mysteries, comic book short stories, prose, and non-fiction. Cosplayer and figure model.