Crisis K9s join police

AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Police Department has acquired multiple K9 units on behalf of the Washington State Department of Corrections.

The acquisition, discussed April 18 at the Plains Safety Alliance meeting, marks an advancement in the department’s crisis response capabilities, officials said.

“I want to highlight what makes this dog different,” co-responder Jenny Mandin said. “She’s there to be crisis response.”

Unlike traditional German Shepherds commonly seen in law enforcement, crisis response dogs are selected and trained specifically for crisis intervention.

“They’re not supposed to look l...