Founded in 2005, the Foothills K9 Association is a non-profit organization established for the sole purpose of promoting training, safety and the health of law enforcement K9’s. As K9 Handlers,
we respect and care for our K9 partners and we are dedicated to supporting them throughout their career and retirement.
The Association provides assistance for:
- Supplemental funding of community education
- Purchasing protective K9 equipment
- Funding specialized K9 schools
- Funding of medical expenses for retired K9’s
- defraying K9 burial or cremation costs
The Association is currently made up of K9 Handlers from the
Placer, Sutter and Yuba County Sheriff’s Departments and Roseville, Lincoln, Placerville, Rocklin and Auburn Police Departments.
Thank you for your interest in Foothills K9 Association! We look forward to partnering with you to ensure the safety of our citizens and those who serve to protect them.
Click on one of the Sheriff or Police department patches below for a description and specific needs for each department.
PLACER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT K9 UNIT
The Placer County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 Unit is over 32 years old. It was started due to the tenacity of Deputy “Mike’ Thompson. Deputy Thompson trained extensively with his K9 “Chopper” then made a proposal to the sheriff and Board of Supervisors.
The Department now fields a total of 15 Teams. The Teams are skilled in narcotics detection, patrol duties, Handler protection, building searches, foot tracking and locating. The Teams are assigned to the Patrol Division, serving all of Placer County and the Corrections Division.
The Handler/K9 Teams are assigned to differing and rotating shifts so as to best utilize the Teams ability to be of assistance to both the Patrol and Corrections Divisions. They reduce search times, which frees Deputies for other calls and reduces potential injuries.
The Handler and K9 are a true team, working the same shift and days. The K9 lives with the Handler and family from initial training thru retirement and beyond.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit responded to over 600 calls for service in Placer County and surrounding jurisdictions last year. The Teams also regularly provides K9 demonstrations and educational events.
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ROSEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT K9 UNIT
The K9 unit began in 1987 with two K9’s .Currently the Department provides funding for six K9 teams. Our K9 teams are cross trained in tracking, officer protection, and drug detection. Our teams train weekly at the Department, monthly with other jurisdictions and quarterly with SWAT.
K9 Officers are assigned to the Patrol Division and work a variety of shifts to ensure they are available to Officers responding to calls. The teams are on call 24 hours a day to provide additional assistance. Currently, Department K9 teams are called on over 300 times a year to locate suspects, search for drugs and other uses.
As like other jurisdictions our K9’s live with us from training thru retirement, relaxing on their days off, but eager to work.
LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT K9 UNIT
The City of Lincoln is in the forefront of economic growth and development associated with being one of the fastest growing cities in California. During the past year the Lincoln Police Department has implemented new and innovative programs to keep pace with the rapid development in the City and surrounding area.
The Lincoln Police Department K9 Unit was just reinstated in 2007 after being
disbanded in 1995. Currently the Department has one K9 team which is trained in tracking, officer protection and drug detection.
Our K9 team trains bi-weekly along with the Placer County Sheriffs Office, Roseville Police Department and the Rocklin Police Department.
K9 Teams are assigned to the Patrol Division and work a variety of shifts. Each K9 Team is on call 24 hours a day to assist as necessary.
Deputy Mike Thompson
Deputy Mike Thompson recognized the need for a K9 Unit in 1975. He was stationed at the Departments Lake Tahoe Service Center in Tahoe City. He acquired his own K9; a Doberman Pincer named “Chopper”. The team went to San Leandro weekly to train with Officer Bill Schroder, who had the top K9 in the State.
Deputy Thompson built his own training course, on his own time and with his own funds. When ready he proposed the K9 Team concept to Sheriff Scott and the Board of Supervisors. They authorized the Team and provided $25.00 monthly to cover veterinary costs and food. The Placer County Sheriffs K9 team was born!
“It was a long process’, says now retired Sergeant Thompson. His efforts put into place the second Sheriffs Department in California to field K9 patrol units, the first being the Los Angles Sheriffs Department’s unit.
We thank him for his tremendous achievement in establishing the nucleus of today’s K9 Unit.
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