K-9 Program

The Bluffton Police Department K9 Program began in late 2017 when village council approved the police department to seek donations to implement a K9 Unit. After receiving generous donations from the community, the K9 Unit began to take shape. In March 2018, Sergeant Tyler Hochstetler attended Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds and Police K9 Academy, located outside Wapakoneta, Ohio, where he selected his K9 partner, K9 Kato. Sergeant Hochstetler and K9 Kato went through an intense six-week training course at Von der Haus Gill K9 Academy which consisted of 12-15-hour days. Upon completion of the K9 Academy, Sergeant Hochstetler and K9 Kato received their certification and became the Bluffton Police Department’s first ever K9 Unit. Sergeant Hochstetler and K9 Kato are certified as a dual-purpose patrol/narcotics K9 team through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) and the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers (NAPCH). Sergeant Hochstetler and K9 Kato conduct a minimum of 16 hours of continuing training per month to maintain their certification standards. K9 Kato is certified in Narcotics Detection to include Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine and Marijuana and their derivatives. K9 Kato is also certified in subject tracking, article (evidence) searches, area and building searches, criminal apprehension, and handler protection. K9 Kato regularly makes appearances at community events and conducts public demonstrations for community organizations. In his free time, K9 Kato enjoys just being a dog and playing with his brothers (humans) and his sister (dog). K9 Kato lives at home with Sergeant Hochstetler and his family and loves playing with his toys; tennis balls, Kongs, balls on ropes, and his Goughnuts ring. But most of all, K9 Kato loves going to work and protecting citizens of Bluffton.