Grand Rapids Police Department Adds New “Officers” to the Force

The Grand Rapids Police Department continues to grow with the addition of two new very special members.

Police Dogs, K9's, who are a very special piece of police work and departments around the country couldn't operate without them. The Grand Rapids Police Department certainly thinks it's true, so they have added two new "officers" to the department.

The GRPD wants you to meet K9s Leo and Ace to the team, according to Fox17, and both are certified to serve the public and are currently on duty, Grand Rapids police say.

Let's meet these two special additions to the Grand Rapids Police team.

LEO

15-month-old Leo is assigned to Officer Pete Thompson. Leo is a Dutch Shepherd and is specialized in sniffing out explosives and patrol duty. He was appointed as Kilo’s replacement, who was retired in September.

ACE

Next is Ace. He is only 11 months old, and Ace is the department’s youngest K9 ever, according to the Grand Rapids Police. Ace is a Belgian Malnois and serves alongside Officer Kenny Nawrocki. His duties are similar to Leo’s.

Ace joins the team after much loved K9 Bosco passed away unexpectedly over the summer.

Both K9s were purchased and trained with the Grand Rapids Police Foundation’s support. GRPD says the support from the foundation is much appreciated so that they can help keep the Greater Grand Rapids community safe.

DOZER

We are all wondering about another K9, Dozer who was injured in a crash this past August when the K9 unit responded to reports of a break-in. Their cruiser was hit by a speeding Jeep at Madison Avenue and Hall Street with the car estimated to have been traveling at least 75 mph, three times above the speed limit. After the crash the people in the car ran away.

Fortunately the officer was not injured but was pinned and did have to the extracted by the Grand Rapids Fire Department. Dozer, on the other hand, suffered severe injuries and was not able to walk. He is doing much better but still under going physical therapy. Whether he will return to duty is not yet certain.

Welcome Leo and Ace!