The Virginia Division of Capitol Police's K-9 teams respond to calls for service throughout the downtown Richmond state government complex as well as calls for service from other agencies throughout the region. The division’s Explosive Detection K-9 Teams consist of two K-9s and two handlers.
Active K-9s
LUCA
Handled by Officer Melanie Sandoval, K-9 Luca is the 12th dog in the history of the Virginia Division of Capitol Police and joined the agency in March 2022 at the age of 4 years old. A Dutch Shepherd, Luca joins K-9 Levi as the first two Capitol Police K-9s to train in the division's new K-9 facility, the Sargent Building. Certified by the Virginia Police Work Dog Association, Luca takes part in counter-terrorism prevention, bomb-threat response, proactive security sweeps, evidence searches, demonstrations and assisting law enforcement agencies in central Virginia.
KAYCE
K-9 Kayce completed her Virginia Division of Capitol Police certification in late D
ecember 2023 and quickly began sharing her skills in and around Capitol Square. Kayce is a Belgian Malinois who previously spent considerable time in Georgia, where she swept incoming shipments for a large construction project at a nuclear plant, then worked for an agency that deployed her to concerts, schools and factories. Handled by Officer Elizabeth Bergeron, Kayce takes part in counter-terrorism prevention, bomb-threat response, proactive security sweeps, evidence searches, demonstrations and assisting neighboring law enforcement agencies.
Retired K-9s
The Division of Capitol Police K-9 Unit was established in December 2000. The K-9 Unit is certified through the Virginia Police Work Dog Association. The K-9 Unit is available 24 hours, seven days a week. When the dogs reach their age and service limit, they are retired and allowed to remain with their handlers as "private citizens."
LEVI (2021-2023)
K-9 Levi, who joined the Virginia Division of Capitol Police in December 2021 and retired in October 2023, wasn't the agency's longest-serving dog, but he was certainly one of its most active. Levi conducted 581 security sweeps, and his duties ranged from counter-terrorism prevention and other security sweeps to bomb-threat responses and evidence searches. His duties took him to Liberty and Longwood universities, the Richmond Marathon and the Monument Avenue 10K as well as the Executive Mansion, the Virginia Supreme Court and other places in and around Virginia's Capitol Square.
DENIS (2018-2023)
Denis was the 10th dog in the history of the Division of Capitol Police K-9 program, joining the force in March 2018. A Belgian Malinois, Denis was born in Brazil and worked in Afghanistan with a defense contractor before coming to the Capitol Police, where he was known for responding to commands in English and German. His handler retired in 2023, and Denis went along with him to a life of leisure.
GUNNER (2013-2022)
A Belgian Malinois, Gunner had the distinction of being the longest-serving dog in the history of the Virginia Capitol Police K-9 program. He began with the division in April 2013 when he was barely 1 year old and continued until August 2022 -- a span of 9 years, 4 months in which he became extremely popular with the stakeholders in and around Capitol Square. He retired to life at home with his K-9 handler.
LUCY (2015-2020) Chocolate labrador
A chocolate Labrador Retriever, Lucy was donated to the division by the K9s4Cops foundation and was trained by AMK9 in Anniston, Ala. Upon retirement, Lucy lived at home with her K-9 handler.
ATOS (2011-2018) German Shepherd
K-9 Atos, a brindle German Shepherd from Marburg, Germany, served with the Division from July 2011 to March 2018. Atos was certified by the Virginia Police Work Dog Association. Upon retirement, he lived at home with his K-9 handler.
SPIKE (2013-2015) Black Labrador Retriever
K-9 Spike served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps before joining the Capitol Police in 2013. In February 2015, the Capitol Police, upon learning that one of his Marine handlers, Lance Cpl. Jared Heine, was struggling to adapt to civilian life back in the United States after being wounded in Afghanistan, arranged to return Spike to him. Spike is now retired and living with Heine in Louisiana.
Press:
CBS News - U.S. Marine Reunites with combat dog
Times-Dispatch - Spike the bomb dog helps his two handlers heal
Cheno (2008-2013) Belgian malinois
Before coming to the division, he worked for the United States Customs Service as a bomb detection K-9 at Newark (N.J.) International Airport. Upon completion of his service with the division, he was retired to live at home with his K-9 handler.
TUCK (2008-2011) Yellow Labrador Retriever
K-9 Tuck worked for Virginia State Police for about five years before Virginia Capitol Police acquired him.
TONKA (2000-2008) Yellow Labrador Retriever
One of the division's first two bomb dogs, Tonka was especially active in the wake of the 9/11 bombings. Tonka worked for the division until retirement in 2008.
TROY (2003-2008) German Shepherd
K-9 Troy worked for Virginia State Police for about three years before Virginia Capitol Police acquired him.
T.J. (2000-2003) Black Labrador
One of the division's first two bomb dogs, K-9 T.J. was especially active in the wake of the 9/11 bombings. T.J. was diagnosed with inoperable spinal cancer in February 2003 and was retired.
