Officer’s Best Friend

Mike LaSala was a police officer in Nassau County, New York. Until he retired in 2020, he worked as a K-9 handler. That’s a police officer who is trained to use working dogs as partners. Twelve-year-old Matthew Cona dreams of being a K-9 handler. He spoke with LaSala about the job.

Matthew Cona meets Zada, a Belgian Malinois. This is a common breed of police dog.

What were the hardest parts of being a K-9 handler?

To become a K-9 handler, you need three certifications. It is an extra 540 hours of training. That’s after your initial police force training.

How did becoming a K-9 handler change your work as a police officer?

It actually made me busier. You’re called in anytime someone needs something done. Dogs are certified in tracking human scent. They can track a person, find evidence, and do building searches.

What advice would you give kids who would like to be K-9 handlers?

Being a good handler is like being a good parent. You have to be dedicated and consistent. You have to think of the dog first. It’s all about their trust in you.

Piper is a police dog. She helped officers track a suspect who was in hiding.