The Life of a Police Dog

Pasadena Police Officer Lynda Mercado and K-9 dog

Kyra – Pasadena Police K-9 Dog

The Pasadena Police Department which is located blocks away from the beginning of the Rose Parade has a new member of its K-9 Unit. Kyra, the first female police dog was born 3 years ago in the Netherlands. She is skilled in both suspect apprehension and finding explosive devices. She is a Dutch Shepherd and takes commands from the first female K-9 police officer in Pasadena, Lynda Mercado.

Each week Kyra is driven by Mercado for K-9 training. The cities of Alhambra, South Pasadena, Whittier, Vernon and Monterey Park rotate their training classes for police dog work. Her primary commands are spoken to her in Dutch but she also takes some commands in English and Spanish.

At a slim 55 lbs., Kyra has been trained to negotiate a variety of obstacles that are presented to Officers that work in the field. Currently, she is being trained to detect explosives in open areas as well as confined spaces. This is particularly important since Pasadena is home to a large stadium like the Rose Bowl, and hosts the world famous Rose Parade on New Years Day. These venues host large audiences and therefore Kyra is taught to alert police quickly to save lives.

“We have found that a German Shepherd is more methodical in its behavior when it searches for a suspect. They will go room to room slowly and carefully. However, a Belgium Malinois will run to the far end of a building and then begin his search. Kyra is like both of these breeds combined into one and is very adaptable under these extreme situations.”

The equipment worn by police officers during weekly training exercises include full body bite suits, individual bite sleeves and face, head, and hand protectors. The protective suit will stop the powerful sharp teeth of a dog from ripping into the skin of a person training with a K-9.

“As part of the training, we practice a variety of scenarios in a variety of terrain so the dogs get used to the differences “ Mercado added.

The Pasadena Police Department has four police dogs. A German Shepherd, a Belgian Teurvern for patrol and narcotics detection, a Belgium Malinois for quick searches in a multi-floor building, and a Dutch Shepherd like Kyra who combines explosives detection and on-street patrol in her training.
“When any of our dogs get injured on the job, whether it’s in Pasadena or 100 miles away, we immediately take them to the nearest vet for treatment.” These injuries can be gunshot wounds, deeply cut paws from running across broken glass, or heavily pulled muscles in the torso from chasing suspects.

“Our German Shepherd was bred in the U.S. The other dogs come to Pasadena already trained from different countries in Europe,” Mercado added. Police dogs work for about 10 years before they retire. The Pasadena Police Foundation raised the capital to purchase Kyra and the canine SUV to transport her and other police dogs.

“I enjoy working with this very smart, reliable dog. I bring her home with me at night and she is more than ready to go to work the next day.”