Yakima hosts statewide police K9 training inside old downtown mall building

YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakima law enforcement officers are hosting the Washington State Police K9 Association Seminar this week at the former Yakima Mall building downtown for more than 75 teams from across the state.

“They have several different scenarios set up that are meant to challenge the handlers and the dogs and make them both learn, where they can run through things as if it was real life," said Mark McKinney, a longtime K9 handler and officer with the Yakima Police Department.

McKinney said the training, which happens twice each year, is especially important because of how much police department rely on their K9 officers, whether they specialize in patrol or narcotics.

“People think that our dogs attack people or that we use our dogs to bite people all the time, but I would estimate probably 80% of the time, us just showing up prevents anybody from having to use any force whatsoever," McKinney said. "That's huge.”

McKinney said when the dogs are off-duty, they're at home with their handlers and become part of their families. He said while it is a 24/7 commitment, he wouldn't have it any other way.

“This was my third dog and when my other two retired or passed away, the first day you go to work without that dog in the back, you forget and you're talking to him back there and he's not back there," McKinney said. "You get used to having him in there all the time and he's your partner. He's here with you every day.”

McKinney said the Yakima Police Department currently has two K9 teams and while he would the program to expand, there's not enough manpower to do so.

Additionally, McKinney said the police department covers some expenses, but like most K9 programs across the state, they're mostly funded through private donations.

In Yakima, that money is mostly raised and collected by K9 Foundation Yakima Valley and goes to pay for new dogs, training, equipment and other program needs.

"It's been so great because we don't have to beg and plead anymore," McKinney said.

Anyone interested in helping pay for the program can donate to K9 Foundation Yakima Valley online here .

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