The Benicia Police Department has purchased a new police canine and selected a handler.  The new team will replace retired police dog Jazz. The purchase was financed with a significant private donation from the Syar Foundation of Napa.

The new dog, Bak, an 18-month-old German shepherd born in the Netherlands, will team up with Benicia Police Officer Kirk Keffer to form Benicia Police Department’s newest K9 team. Bak and Keffer will join Officer Damiean Sylvester and Mirco, another German shepherd. The department purchased Mirco in April 2009 and they started working the street as a team in June 2009.

"We are extremely thankful to the Syar Foundation, and to Susan Syar, for their financial contribution," Benicia Police Lt. Mike Daley said in a press release. "The amount they donated, $11,700, allowed us to purchase Bak and a bulletproof vest for his protection. Without their generous donation, we may not have been able to secure funding to buy another police canine."

Both police canines have been outfitted with protective vests. “Cover Your Canine,” via the Police and Working K9 Foundation, donated Mirco’s vest.

"Unfortunately, police K9s now need the same protection against violent criminals that officers do," Daley said. "The vests that have been donated and the one we're purchasing via the Syar Foundation provide top-level vest protection to these two police canines."

Benicia's Pet Food Express at 838 Southampton Rd. partnered with the police department and donated Bak's doghouse. Pet Food Express also provides free bathing for both canines when needed and provides pet food at discounted price. "Pet Food Express is another local business that has partnered with the Police Department to assist in our K9 program," Lt. Daley said.

With the required training needed for the new team, it is anticipated the duo will hit the streets of Benicia sometime in October or November. The Solano County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit, specifically K9 Deputy Mike Waller, has an agreement with the Benicia Police Department to train Bak free of charge. The Sheriff's Office also provides monthly training to Benicia's K9 teams at no charge.

"The Solano County Sheriff's Office and Deputy Waller have been very generous in providing canine training services to our department," Benicia Police Sergeant Chris Bidou said. "Deputy Waller was also very helpful in assisting Officer Keffer in selecting Bak as our new police canine." Sergeant Bidou oversees and supervises the department's Canine Unit. 

Bak was purchased from Vigilant Canine Services International in Red Bluff, CA, in late July. Bidou, Keffer, Waller and Solano Sheriffs Office Deputy Craig Collins considered a number of dogs before selecting Bak. "We did a variety of tests and spent time with many canines before we unanimously agreed on Bak," Sgt. Bidou said.

Training will begin in either September or October and will last about six weeks.  When basic training is completed, Bak will be cross-trained in patrol techniques such as tracking, apprehension, handler protection, searching and obedience. In addition, Bak will also be trained in narcotic detection that consists of detective odors of various illegal drugs.

"Police Canine Teams provide a very valuable service to the community and are very popular with our residents," said Daley. "Officer Keffer and Bak will add their names to the list of the very good police canine teams our department, and our city, have been very lucky to have."