Vancouver police get new K-9, handler

The Vancouver Police Department welcomed a new police dog this week and selected an officer to join the agency’s K-9 unit as the dog’s handler.

Doc, a 2-year-old Dutch shepherd, was purchased earlier this week using money donated by the public, Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said.

Officer Christopher Douville joins the unit as his handler and named the dog Doc as a tribute to his father.

The two fill a vacancy in the unit left by Ike, a 6-year-old Belgian malinois who died in September after chasing fleeing suspect Jacky Chan Karuo. Ike bit Karuo, who turned around and stabbed the dog multiple times. Ike was euthanized the next day.

Douville replaces Ike’s handler, Jack Anderson, who was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Douville and Doc are spending time together to bond now, Kapp said, and will attend a 400-hour training academy starting April 18 for Doc to be trained in both narcotics detection and tracking. Doc will not be trained to detect the scent of marijuana.

Once the duo completes the training, they will be deployed to the patrol division.