A Springer Spaniel Just Made CHP History With K-9 Graduation

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA — After completing hundreds of hours of specialized training, six new canine teams have officially joined the California Highway Patrol, with their accomplishments recognized at a graduation ceremony on Friday in West Sacramento.

“These canine teams represent the next generation of the CHP’s specialized public safety resources,” Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a news release. “While each handler brings years of experience, today marks the start of new partnerships built on trust, discipline and rigorous training.”

The graduating class includes two Belgian Malinois, two Dutch Shepherds, one German Shepherd and, for the first time in CHP history, one Springer Spaniel.

They are K-9 Lucy of the Northern Division, K-9 Rex of the Coastal Division, K-9 Vader of the Southern Division, K-9 Joker of the Valley Division, K-9 Trooper of the Golden Gate Division, and K-9 Lincoln, the Springer Spaniel, of the Capitol Protection Section.

The class consists of three patrol and narcotics detection canine teams, one patrol and explosives detection canine team, one explosives detection canine team and one narcotics detection canine team.

Each handler is a CHP officer with three to 20 years of service. Depending on their assignment, the teams completed between 240 and 600 hours of specialized training together.

In 2025, CHP narcotics-detection canine teams conducted nearly 1,700 enforcement searches, resulting in the seizure of more than 21,170 pounds of illegal narcotics — including marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin — and over $12.2 million in illicit currency, according to the agency.

During the same period, CHP patrol explosives-detection canine teams conducted more than 7,000 explosives-detection searches, resulting in the seizure of ammunition, rifles, shotguns, handguns and improvised explosive devices, the news release said.

“The results speak for themselves,” Duryee said in the news release. “Our canine teams help remove dangerous drugs, illegal weapons and explosives from California’s communities every day. Their specialized capabilities enhance officer safety and provide an invaluable tool for protecting the public.”

After Friday’s graduation, CHP has a total of 54 canine teams deployed across the state, including 39 patrol and narcotics detection canine teams, eight patrol and explosives detection canine teams, two narcotics detection canine teams and five explosives detection canine teams.