Cleveland Metroparks Police Department founded its K-9 unit in 2002. The K-9 unit patrols the entire Park District and specializes in locating missing people, apprehending flee suspects and odor detection. Members of the unit continuously update their skills through weekly training exercises, statewide instruction and national training conferences. The award-winning unit has an outstanding reputation and neighboring police departments regularly request their assistance. The K-9 unit also draws upon its unique public appeal to promote safety and crime prevention and Cleveland Metroparks events and community outreach opportunities.
All the K-9 units have been generously provided, free of charge, by Tom and Kathy Schmidt, owners of Schmidt’s of Macedonia and coordinators of the Buckeye Area Regional K-9 (BARK).
Currently the K-9 unit consists of Officer Collins with K-9 Jett and Officer Chelsea Schoch with K-9 Creed, both dogs are certified in narcotics detections and general patrol. K-9 Jett is also certified in cadaver detection.
K-9 Creed and handler Officer Chelsea Schoch.
K-9 Jett and handler Officer Will Collins.