FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has recently welcomed K-9s back to its law enforcement division to help conservation officers across the commonwealth. 

The agency hopes doing so will increase their presence in communities. 

The three sibling Labrador retrievers, each just 15 months old, have been part of the force for two months. The K-9s include two girls and one boy.

They’re strategically partnered with officers to spread out coverage in three regions of Kentucky. The dogs will be trained to search for people, look for items and sniff out drugs, officials said.

Region 1 in Western Kentucky is led by officer Evan Hughes and K-9 Cosmo. Conservation officer Cody Berry and K-9 Gambit will serve region 2 in south central Kentucky, with conservation officer Glenn Griffie and K-9 River serving region 5 in eastern Kentucky.

Officer Griffie said he’d like to eventually see at least 15 more K-9s on the force. 

“She might pick up on something I don’t see or hear and alert me to it. [And] when we’re out doing our job for the drug detection, trailing or article search, she’s going to be able to help me find stuff that I’m looking for,” Griffie said. “So when I say she’s a tool, my partner…she’s the best tool I’ve ever had during my law enforcement career.”

Officer Griffie has served nearly 10 years in law enforcement and said eastern Kentucky deals with their fair share of children wandering off. But with the K-9s help, it could significantly decrease search time.

The three dogs will live with the conservation officers and their families to help them trust and care for each other. If there is a big case across the state, all three K-9 units will team up.

All three K-9s were trained in Harmony, North Carolina, at the Highland Canine Training Center. The dogs will be present at most large scale Kentucky events, including Poker Run and Lights Under Louisville.