Photo courtesy of the LBPD.
Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) K-9 Officer Mike Parcells began field patrol this week with his new K-9 partner “Storm,” after his former police service dog “Credo” was struck by friendly fire in the line of duty earlier this year.
Storm is a 1 ½-year-old male Belgian Malinois, who was imported from Holland, where he received pre-training and then was sent to Vohne Liche Kennels, a training facility in Indiana. Parcells travelled to Indiana in August, where he interacted with 25 dogs, before selecting Storm.
Video courtesy of the LBPD.
Storm then traveled back with Parcells to embark on several more weeks of patrol training, which included search techniques, verbal commands, obedience, agility and evidence searches, according to officials. Storm has undergone 200 plus hours of training, and was certified for field duty earlier this month.
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Parcells described the newly certified K-9 as puppy-like, but is confident in his abilities. Although losing the irreplaceable Credo was extremely difficult, Parcells said he excited to have Storm, his sixth police serve dog, as a new partner, according to the LBPD.
Storm was funded by the Long Beach K-9 Officers Association (LBK9OA), a non-profit organization established by members of the community with the goal of promoting and supporting the LBPD’s K-9 Unit. The LBK9OA has also covered the cost of professionally fitted and upgraded tactical vests for LBPD police service dogs. To learn more about the LBK9OA or to make a contribution, visit their website here.