Article Contributed on: 5/14/2008 10:57:03 AM
In mid- March of this year, Officer Josh Johnson and Westminster PD K-9 Trainer Officer Brian Hemplemann traveled to Denver, Ind to pick out a new K-9 partner for Officer Johnson. After the 17 hour car ride they arrived at Vohne Liche Kennels and began testing the 10 dogs that had been pre-selected for them. They were looking for a good fit for Josh and for police patrol work. They met Bunker, a 20 month old Dutch Shepherd who was already certified in the detection of narcotics and had some training in tracking. Bunker seemed to be that perfect fit so the $8,000.00 purchase was made and Bunker got to come home to Westminster.
Bunker and Josh began a training academy certifying Bunker in tracking, patrol, recall, bite and release, area and building searches. On May 7, 2008 Bunker became official and is now among the four other Westminster Police K-9 teams.