They can see and smell things humans don't even know are there.
K-9s are four-legged crime fighters and their value to the Wichita Police Department is measured in the number of drugs and bad guys they've seized.
Officer Chad Cooper and his partner "Kelly" have been patrolling the streets of Wichita together for seven years with one primary job -- finding drugs and getting them off the streets.
K-9s and their handlers train once a week to stay sharp and maintain credibility in court. Sometimes the training involves Cooper hiding marijuana in hard to find locations and letting the dog loose to find it, along with a reward.
"To see the ability of the dog and to see your training all come into how that dog performs, that's my greatest joy in being in this position," said Cooper.
"Kelly" is energetic and high-strung; traits that make for a good K-9.
The two are partners on the job and companions at home. "Kelly" lives with Cooper and his family. She spends most of her time in a large outdoor kennel built with donated materials.
On days off, "Kelly" needs playtime to burn off her nervous energy. At 9 years-old, the fiery Belgian Malinois is considered the "Old Lady" of the K-9 unit.
"You can tell she's slowing down a little bit from when she was a puppy," said Cooper, noting she still has more energy than most dogs. When the time comes to retire her from duty, "Kelly" will stay with Cooper's family and "just be a dog".
The Wichita Police Department has a total of five K-9s. Some are single-purpose drug and evidence sniffing dogs, others are dual-purpose dogs capable of finding drugs and apprehending criminals.
The K-9 program is funded largely through public and private donations. Food and medical services are often donated or offered at steep discounts. Some of the dogs themselves have been purchased with the help of local businesses such as Dillons and Ribbit Computers, police said.
