K-9 Program

The current Defiance Police Department K9 program started in 1995.  The Department uses trained and certified police utility dogs that are trained in drug interdiction, tracking, building searches, article searches, criminal apprehension, and handler protection.

The Defiance Police K9 Unit has been a valuable asset to the City of Defiance, Ohio, resulting in numerous criminal apprehensions, drug seizures, and mutual aid requests from other jurisdictions.

The Defiance Police Department currently has two K9 units.  Patrolman Tristan Sanders is Kenzo's K9 handler.  Kenzo is a German Shepherd from Poland. Kenzo and Handler Sanders have been in service since December 2023.  Patrolman Zachary Higgins is Nico's K9 handler. Nico is a Belgian Malinois from Ukraine. Nico and Handler Higgins have been in service since December 2025. 

The Department K9 handlers and K9 units attend an intensive 14-week training and certification program.

Previous serving Defiance Police K9s include:

• Eagle: 1999 to 2002
  Handler: Officer Steve Gebhart
• Zeus: 2002 to 2009
  Handler: Officer Steve Waldron
• Rex: 2009 to 2017
  Handler: Officer Mitch McClure
• Myrko: 2017 to 2025
  Handler: Officer Garrett Roth