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Oғғ ᴛʜᴇ Cᴜғғ Pᴏᴅᴄᴀsᴛ | Eᴘɪsᴏᴅᴇ #27
"K9 Convo" - OFC Dane Haugen
A year that felt “quieter” turned out to be the second-busiest in our department’s history—and that’s just the first surprise. We break down what the numbers really say: why call volume climbed as staffing improved, how proactive patrols nudged crashes down and warrants up, and the single most encouraging stat of the year—a sharp drop in domestic violence calls compared to the recent average. Not everything trended well, though. We dig into the rise in resisting and preventing arrest, the risks in those split-second moments, and why our mantra is comply now, contest later.
We also open the hood on how we’re getting better at the unglamorous work that wins cases. Report writing became a 2026 priority, with Draft One—Axon’s closed system that drafts from body-cam transcripts—helping officers save time while improving accuracy. Pair that with direct feedback from prosecutors and we’re already seeing cleaner narratives and fewer avoidable delays. Wellness got teeth this year, too. We set three sturdy legs—mental health check-ins, tighter cardiac screenings, and a department-backed financial literacy course with Ramsey Solution's "Financial Peace University"—so officers can make better decisions and build stronger lives at home.
Then there’s the story everyone’s been asking about: Officer Dane and K9 Frida. From jail corrections to rookie cop to field training officer, Dane leaned into discomfort until growth became a habit. His leap to K9 handler brought a Slovakian Malinois with endless drive and zero English into a 14-week training gauntlet. Together they learned the real craft of detection: reading breath changes, tail cadence, and head snaps; understanding residual odor; and certifying on fentanyl, meth, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy. Frida works hard on the street and sits calm with kids at community events—the rare balance we need.
If you value candid insights into policing that go beyond headlines—data that surprises, systems that improve, and a handler who lets you see the messy middle—this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves K9 stories, and leave a review with the moment that stuck with you most.
