AH Police Department adding a second K-9 unit

While the Airway Heights Police Department is adding four officers to its ranks in 2017, it is also bringing on an additional member of the four-legged variety.

The department is adding another K-9 unit to its roster. In a January interview, Chief Lee Bennett explained the department has two patrol teams, with each one working four, 10-hour shifts. Officer Mike Ziegler and his canine partner, Austin, make up Airway Heights' current K9 unit. Although Ziegler conducts regular patrols like any officer, he will sometimes have to come in on his days off and bring in Austin when they need him.

"The benefit is we'll have a K-9 unit every single day and that will cut down on my calls from home," Ziegler said.

Airway Heights established its canine unit in 2008. At the time, the city of Spokane's Police Department and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office were getting rid of their drug detection dog.

"Washington State Patrol had a narcotics dog, but with only one dog out there, we thought it would be tough to bring them out here during the week," Bennett said. "Airway Heights had a drug problem at the time and we thought it would be the best thing to start our own K-9 program."

Austin, a shepherd lab mix from Tacoma, and Ziegler have been partners since 2008 and have worked on cases with local agencies, as well as the U.S. Marshals and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Ziegler said Austin is trained to discern different odors including marijuana, cocaine and heroin. He's also brought in for search warrant cases.

"During patrol, I'll deploy Austin and when he does well, he receives a reward," Ziegler said

"Austin thinks of it as a game and I think of it as work," he added with a laugh.

Besides being partners on the street, Austin lives at home with Ziegler and his family.

Officer Dennis Bachman is training at the Shelton Corrections Center. Bennett said Bachman had an early interest in working with police dogs. He's also trained in the field with Ziegler and Austin.

"The interview process for the new K-9 officer was tough and Bachman rose to the top," Bennett said.

Ziegler said Bachman trains at the academy for six weeks - with a weeklong break halfway through the class - under the tutelage of Barbara Davenport, K-9 trainer for the Department of Corrections. Davenport has been training officers for 30 years and the canines she provides her students are rescue dogs from the Inland Northwest. The class includes handler instruction and dogs and instructor training to outside agencies.

At the academy, Bachman will meet his canine partner and bring them back to Airway Heights to work with him after he graduates, which Ziegler said should be in mid-March.

Bachman's partner will not be the only new canine brought on to the department this year. In September, Austin will retire and Ziegler will return to the academy to get recertified and a new police dog.

"He's been on numerous deploys and has done a great service for the city," Ziegler said of his partner.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.