HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Hopkinsville Police Department has their newest K9 team on the streets, as a local puppy was given the chance to enter into a loving home and also prove himself as an efficient element of law enforcement.
Ares is a two-year-old purebred Belgian Malinois, who has local roots in Christian County extending before joining the force. Born in Crofton in August of 2023, he was quickly adopted by K9 Officer D. Collins when he was just 12 weeks old.
“The bond between Officer Collins and K9 Ares was strong from the start, and it’s only grown stronger,” said Officer Royale Marfil with HPD.
Training leading up to K9 Team
Within two weeks of going to his new home, Ares went excelled at basic obedience training. Collins soon learned that his new pet was actually a sibling of another newly adopted dog that had also been taken home by a K9 officer. This bond encouraged them to pursue additional training.
After Ares turned one, Collins decided to enroll him in handler protection training, and then undergo rigorous testing by HPD in July of this year. Next the team attended K9 School and graduated in September, with the department announcing the new team on Oct. 16.
According to HPD, the duo is now a dual-purpose, AWDA-certified team (American Working Dog Association), with certifications in narcotics detection, handler protection, article detection, and suspect apprehension. So far this fall, they have already been part of multiple deployments with K9 Ares locating narcotics and apprehending fleeing suspects.
“Trust is everything between a handler and their K9 partner because they depend on each other for their safety. That bond is one of the most important parts of their partnership,” Officer Marfil added. Aside from Ares, the last time HPD gained a new K9 was in October of 2024, with the dog purchased by the department from Indiana.
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