New K9 in town

WEST CALN >> It’s nice having a dog by your side as your partner against crime.

West Caln Police Chief Curt Martinez did not believe he would continue with a K9 after K9 Butch retired, but because of the generosity of the community to raise the funds, he welcomed K9 Matrix to the force to help with the opioid epidemic.

“I wasn’t going to get another K9,” Martinez explained, “but with the drug epidemic, in the county and all over the world, I decided to get a narcotics and patrol dog.”

While there are only a few dif

ferences from working with an explosive K9 and a narcotics K9, he believes it is a good fit to have a narcotics dog because of the worldwide opioid epidemic.

“It’s everywhere and it affects everyone,” Martinez said. “It doesn’t discriminate, not with age, color, rich or poor. In 2017, we had six overdose deaths, and in 2018 we were fortunate that there weren’t any deaths, but we administered Narcan to several people. This year we’ve had three deaths. By having a narcotics dog we can save lives by getting the drugs off the street; it’s worth having a dog.”

A fundraiser was held to obtain K9 Matrix, a twoyear-old Belgian Malinois from France. That covered the cost of his patrol and narcotics training. While the training for his two previous dogs was great, he described this training as the “most intense.”

“It was a lot of real-life training scenarios,” Martinez said.

Martinez said that Matrix has served on the streets since November 2018, and they have assisted with several narcotic finds in West Caln Township and other municipalities in Chester County.

“He’s a good working dog. He’s on patrol with me every day,” Martinez said, explaining that any department that needs assistance can contact county dispatch and request a call out.

To him it’s gratifying to work another K9 and get the drugs off the streets.

“It’s rewarding to know that we’re making a difference,” Martinez said. “It might not be a big difference, but every little thing helps.”

He said people enjoy seeing him with k9 Matrix while on patrol and while attending community or school events.

“It’s nice to see a child with a smile on their face when they see K9 Matrix,” he said. “They always ask about the dog.”

He has spent 20 of his 30 years in law enforcement with the K9 and described the dogs as part of his family. He jokes with his officers that the best part about having a K9 is that they always listen and follow orders. Overall, he enjoys the companionship of having a dog by his side.

“They are always with you when you’re working,” Martinez said. “He’s there to protect me and everyone else.”

Martinez is thankful to have the support of the community and the organizations that have assisted him with his third K9. In addition to donations from the public, Protection4Paws donated a Handler Alert System along with Narcan. Exton Vet Clinic also donated Narcan in case K9 Matrix is exposed. Spikes K9 donated his bulletproof vest and K9 Defender donated a “buddy bag” of first aid supplies for canines.

“The Narcan is great to have. Hopefully we’ll never have to use it,” Martinez said. “He’s trained to sniff out drugs. If God forbid he is exposed to it, and he needs (Narcan), we have it.”

Martinez is grateful to have so much support from the community, and said without their support, this would not be possible. He is also thankful to the township supervisors for letting him continue the K9 program with the police department.

Martinez has history as one of the longest law enforcement K9 officers in Chester County. He began his K9 career with K9 Ricky, and they worked together from 1999 to 2010, beginning with the Coatesville Area School District, then East Fallowfield Police Department and then in West Caln Township when Martinez became the chief of police in 2007. Ricky had cancer and was euthanized in 2010.

Next, Martinez worked with K9 Bouc (Butch), who retired in 2018. Ricky and Butch both served as patrol and explosive detection. During their career, Martinez was often detailed out to the Chester County Detectives, FBI, ATF, and the U.S. Marshals for numerous jobs. They also assisted in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to help support the K9 teams of the NYPD.

Butch and Matrix live at home with Martinez and Xena, his non-police dog. At 13 years of age, Xena, is the queen of the household, Martinez joked.

“They all get along great,” Martinez said.

PHOTO BY RO K9 Matrix is a narcotics and patrol dog, serving with the West Caln Police Department.