CHP: K-9 team Kirby and ‘Dinko’ slated for Solano
Amid happy whines, a flurry of barks and ample applause Friday, seven new California Highway Patrol K-9 teams graduated from training and are set to hit the streets.
Solano’s Golden Gate Division, located in Vallejo, awaits Officer Nathan Kirby and Dinko, a large and personable Belgian Malinois who celebrates his second birthday in February.
“They’re amazing, these dogs,” shared Kirby, ruffling his partner’s fur during a pawful of free moments before the graduation ceremony at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento.
Kirby has been with the CHP for 11 years.
Following his graduation from the academy, he was assigned to the Marin office. He worked patrol for four years and then transferred into the narcotics division, where he spent another four years. Next up came investigations, where he spent most of his time in the Oakland office.
Then came the opportunity to try his hand with the K-9 unit, and who can really turn down having such a cool partner?
“It was a good way to come out (of the Investigations team) and use the skills I already learned,” Kirby explained.
The new partners apparently got along upon meeting, a good sign.
“He’s just got a good disposition about him,” the officer said. “We clicked.”
Dinko, a Holland native, is the largest dog in the training class, which also includes two other
Belgian Malinois, a Dutch Shepherd, a German Shepherd and, for the first time ever, two German Shorthair Pointers.
Dinko is one of two trained as Patrol and Explosive Detection canines, training for 15 weeks or 600 hours.
There are also three Patrol and Narcotics canines, which trained for 11 weeks or 440 hours; and two Explosive
Detection dogs, which trained for 10 weeks or 360 hours.
Following graduation, all the teams are expected to train for eight hours every week until they retire.
The other teams are slated for Valley, Border, Inland and Protective Services divisions.
Training has been intense, Kirby said, and he had to learn Dutch to give
Dinko commands.
So far, so good though. As Dinko will live with his handler, he’ll be the only dog at home.
“I’ve got four kids,” Kirby advised. “He’s like the fifth.”
The officer said he’s excited to get to work and demonstrate what Dinko is capable of.
During the ensuing ceremony, Chief Jim Epperson spoke of expanding on the dogs’ natural abilities during training.
“We just develop things they do naturally and they’re just having fun,” he pointed out.
Capt. Jason Daughrity agreed, adding that their rewards were just a tad different from the average staff member’s.
“They’re treated just like regular uniformed staff,” he said, “they’re just paid differently. They’re paid in kibble rather than cash.”
All jokes aside, officials praised the teams for their hard work and wished them well.
Graduates included Kirby and Dinko, Eduardo Garcia and Kato, John Hamlon and Beno, Cory Barton and Tyson, Justin Hagen and Tekk, John Gette and Bolt, and Jack Lane and Buddy.