K-9 Program

Patrolman Garrett Roth and K9 MyrkoThe current Defiance Police Department K9 program started in 1995. At this time the Department incorporated its first full time K9 unit. Currently the Defiance Police K9 unit consists of a full time K9 handler and a department K9. 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 great asset to the City of Defiance and has accounted for numerous criminal apprehensions, drug seizures, and mutual aid requests from other jurisdictions.

Patrolman Garrett Roth is the current K9 handler. Myrko is the current police K9 and is half Belgian Malinois and half German shepherd from Poland

The Department K9 handler and K9 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