K-9 Unit

The Chesterfield Township Police Department K-9 is K-9 Hemi, whose handler is Officer Hallie Fowler. Hemi was born in Slovakia and hand-picked by Officer Fowler, and is certified through the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers. Hemi lives and works with Officer Fowler, and the team responds alongside patrol officers whenever a call may benefit from a trained police dog. Hemi is a passive alert canine, meaning he will sit and stare at the source of an odor.

To stay certified, a canine team must train more than 240 hours and pass certifications each year in obedience, narcotics, tracking, building search, area search, article search and handler protection.

In April 2026 the department retired K-9 Viper after nine years of loyal service alongside his handler, Officer John Amore, locating narcotics, apprehending suspects, tracking and supporting community safety. In 2025, their last full year, the two teams were deployed 108 times, conducted 78 vehicle searches for narcotics with 36 positive hits, logged 483 hours of training and recorded zero bites. The dogs are also a favorite at community events, appearing at 13 demonstrations in 2025.

What the K-9 Team Does

• Respond to traffic stops where a narcotics search of a vehicle may be needed (45 percent of 2025 deployments)
• Clear business and residential alarm calls with a search of the building or grounds (12 percent of 2025 deployments)
• Conduct vehicle searches for narcotics (78 searches and 36 positive hits in 2025)
• Track and locate suspects or missing persons and search areas and buildings
• Provide a visible presence on high-risk calls; in 2025 every K-9 use of force was presence only, with zero bites
• Visit schools, the department open house, the North Gratiot Cruise and both public safety academies for demonstrations