The 2024 PK9A® Golf Outing FORE K-9’s will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the Legends in Massillon. Registration is open now. Click here to register.

PK9A® K-9 Luiz, Massillon Police Department
I started with the PK9A® back in 2016 with my first partner, K-9 Chucky. He retired early due to a health condition. My second partner was K-9 Bruno, who fulfilled a rewarding career and retired in 2022. The PK9A® made the transition to my current partner, K-9 Rocky, seamless. The scenario-based training, education, and equipment provided by the PK9A® translated to a substantial amount of success to our team. Most importantly, the PK9A® provides an irreplaceable family of brothers and sisters that share a common goal.
I have been a member of the PK9A® when I began with my first K-9 partner, Bono, in 2014. Bono and I had an outstanding career thanks to the training and support received from the PK9A®. When Bono passed away suddenly in November 2020, the PK9A® also stood by as family, not just as members and friends. Since the passing of Bono, I have completed by state certificate with my newest partner, K-9 Puma. We are excited to continue to protect the good people of Steubenville and surrounding areas, thanks to the training, education and tools provided by the PK9A®.
The reason K-9 Breeze and I love being members of the PK9A®, is because it is more than “just a bunch of guys” coming to train. The PK9A® is a family of brothers and their K-9 partners, who will always have your back. We come together for one cause: to succeed on the streets and conquer all evil. The PK9A® helps all members succeed while on-and-off the job. They bring multiple agencies together and are available to help each handler succeed daily.
Not only do I appreciate the support the PK9A® offers to current K-9 member teams, I think much of the assistance they provide when a K-9 retires or passes away. I started with the PK9A® with my first partner, K-9 Ozzie, who served a full career with the Carroll Co. SO. Once Ozzie retired, I continued as a handler with K-9 Otis. He retired in 2022 and I now have my third partner, K-9 Omar. I value how the PK9A® trains a multitude of different scenarios to make K-9’s more tactical and also how they educate the handlers. In return, it creates a solid partnership.
The 2024 PK9A® Golf Outing FORE K-9’s will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 at the Legends in Massillon. Registration is open now. Click here to register.
PK9A® K-9 Luiz, Massillon Police Department
The Police K-9 Association promotes service and safety in our communities through the efficient deployment and use of K-9 teams. The PK9A® consists of active and retired teams from a multitude of different police and sheriff departments. Many of our active teams are also members of the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI Task Force, S.W.A.T., and various school systems.
Our predecessors formed the PK9A® in 1985 with the intent to assist a single department for their own needs. Over the last four decades, our organization has grown exponentially. In our partnership with the Canton Police Department K-9 Unit, we assist our members by providing the imperative education and training.
To ensure the quality of training, memberships for active K-9 teams are limited and require an approval process. To learn more, please complete the ‘Contact Us’ form on our website.
Officer Christopher Heslop, President & Head Trainer
Officer Trey Schilling, Vice President & Treasurer
Officer Aric Cook, Secretary
Sergeant. Mike Hickman, Trustee
Officer Bryan Jeffries, Trustee
Ashley Caley, Trustee and Development Coordinator
Deputy Chris Edwards, Trustee
Officer Jordan Doughty, Trustee