Why Have Need a K-9 Program

Over the years, in our little town of Berkley, Michigan, we have had multiple residents leave their homes and be reported missing. Some are elderly. Some are struggling with mental health. Some are children. In all cases, having a tracking dog helps bring about a good ending to a terrifying problem. Simply put, the K-9 unit extends the capabilities of our team.
 

About Brian:
Officer Brian Anderson was selected as the K-9 handler because of his outstanding work ethic, his commitment and dedication to the residents of Berkley. 

An accomplished officer, in 2019, Officer Anderson was recognized for his dedication to getting impaired drivers off the streets. He received the MADD Lifesavers Outstanding Officer Award because Officer Anderson made more impaired driving arrests than any other officer in the state of Michigan - 117, to be exact. That was also the most ever for any Berkley officer, and more than 50 arrests than the next closest officer in the state. Seventeen of those suspects were repeat offenders. You can watch the Fox 2 video here!. 

Officer Anderson is also a big dog lover and works well with young people. He’ll be mentored by Officer Schewe, an experienced K-9 handler. 

About Dan:
Officer Dan Schewe has been a police officer since 1998 working with various police departments in the Metro-Detroit area and has been with the Berkley Public Safety Department for the last five years.

Officer Schewe is an experienced K-9 handler who served with his K-9 partner, Xander, for a total of nine years within three different departments and communities. He is serving as a mentor to Officer Anderson in his role as a K-9 handler. 
 

What the Program Provides
 

• Track missing people – we want all residents to be safe and find them if they are lost.
• Track illegal substances – drug abuse is on the rise, exacerbated by the pandemic. 
• Locate evidence and suspects – items that are stolen or left behind as part of a crime scene, building searches. 
• Build bonds with the community – we especially seek to form connections with children and teens through a presence in the schools. A trained officer and a dog speaking to a room of students initiate a conversation around the perils of drug and alcohol abuse. Relationships are formed between students and the officer, which makes it far more likely for students to reach out for help. 
• Partner with local communities – K-9 units have a reciprocal partnership relationship with surrounding communities. 

Additional Questions or Inquiries?
If you have questions, contact Lieutenant Jordan Kobernick at 248-658-3387 or email at jkobernick@berkleypublicsafety.net.