(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Everyone loves a hero, especially a four-legged one. And the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) boasts several of these valorous pooches in the K9 Unit, who can make the difference between a peaceful arrest and a difficult outcome. K9 Zev, a patrol apprehension and narcotics detection dog, is such an impressive member of the team that all he needs to do is bark, and suspects surrender.
K9 Zev is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who loves to work, protecting the citizens of Colorado Springs — a job he excels at. And when he’s an extra good boy, he’s rewarded with pup cups, a prize fit for the most excellent of CSPD team members.
On Thursday, June 5, K9 Zev, with the help of his K9 officer and other members of CSPD, convinced a motor vehicle theft suspect to surrender, according to the police who work with Zev.
K9 Zev allowed detectives to do the preliminary work of tracking down a suspect allegedly known to be involved in multiple car thefts.
Zev and his officer then joined other police at the scene in an area near Airport Road and South Murray Boulevard.
Zev’s fellow police officers blocked the suspect’s vehicle with their cruisers, preventing her from escaping the daring K9. The detectives and officers instructed her to get out of the car, but she refused.
K9 Zev then stepped in and, with a commanding bark, ordered her to get out of the car, and she peacefully surrendered.
K9 Zev allegedly deserved a pup cup after this incident.
Zev is not an ‘all work and no play’ kind of dog. When not on duty, he enjoys long walks in the parks with those he loves, watching the sunrise over the eastern plains. When in a more active mood, his sport of choice is playing ball.
He has a taste for gourmet food, with his favorite treat being Grandma Lucy’s Oven-Baked Apple Cinnamon Dog Cookies. And who could resist giving him what he wants, with his soulful gaze and ears that reach to the sky?
But when it’s time to focus, K9 Zev is fully on the job.
On Tuesday, June 17, K9 Zev convinced another suspect to surrender with his signature bark.
Members of the CSPD Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force and Tactical Enforcement Unit laid the groundwork for Zev by tracking a suspect that CSPD said was wanted on an outstanding warrant for aggravated robbery. They followed him to a location in the 4700 block of North Nevada Avenue, near Austin Bluffs Parkway, where they blocked him in, so that he couldn’t escape from Zev and endanger the community.
K9 Zev’s partner let him know that it was the optimal time to wield his impressive bark, as other officers also ordered the suspect to peacefully surrender. The suspect complied and surrendered without a struggle and was taken into custody.
K9 Zev allegedly deserved another pup cup following this incident.
K9 Zev is an outstanding example of why the K9 Unit is such an integral part of CSPD’s team and why the K9s are so beloved by the community. With his bravery, dedication, and tremendous bark, he keeps the streets of Colorado Springs safe.
