Kansas Police Department Employs State's First Pit Bull K9 Officer
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A Kansas police department is welcoming a new member to its K9 unit: a full-blooded, red nose pit bull named Kano.
The dog is the state's first pit bull K9 officer, according to The Wichita Eagle.
The Stafford Police Department says Kano -- named after a "Mortal Combat" character because of his "unique" eye color and patches -- went through an 8-week training program with Universal K9. The Texas-based organization rescues pit bulls and trains them for law enforcement and veterans.
Kano is already hard at work. Stafford Police tells WJZ Kano assisted in Barton County Sheriff's $7,500-marijuana drug bust on Dec. 11.
Kano's handler, Officer Mason Paden, stated in a Facebook post he hopes some of the stigma associated with pit bulls will be eliminated.
Paden wrote: "I have always been 'pro-Pit Bull' these dogs are misunderstood... Just like people dogs are individuals too! Kano and I plan to get out there and help try to change the bad name that so many have given the Pit Bull."
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