Meet Our K-9 Officers

APD K-9 Brick

K9 Brick was born January 24, 2021 in Worcester, MA. He was originally paired with Officer Andrew Jarman who had him for approximately one year. In March/April of 2023, Officer Timothy Robinson (who ironically is also from Worcester) took over as Brick's handler and partner, and they have been best friends ever since.  

Brick is a the department's first Belgian Malinois and he will be certified as a dual-purpose police canine. He has a highly social personally and is a "normal" dog outside of work. Brick also loves to work, and he "flips the switch" to work mode and is ready to go. 

K9 Brick is lovingly named after fallen Auburn Police Officer Norman Philbrick, who died in the line of duty on July 7, 1949.

APD Comfort Dog Benny-Bud

Benny-Bud is the Auburn Police Department’s comfort dog. He is a Golder Retreiver, born in January of 2024. Benny’s handler is Rebecca Bixby, the Auburn PD’s Property & Evidence Coordinator.

Benny-Bud is the department's first comfort animal and he is certified as a therapy dog by Mission Working Dogs. He has a calm, loving personality and is perfectly suited to his job of offering comfort, emotional support, and stress relief to our officers and staff. He also enjoys representing our agency at community events.

Benny-Bud is named after two beloved members of the Auburn Police Department, Richard “Benny” Mercier, retired Lewiston Police Officer and APD’s longtime court officer who passed away in 2021, and retired APD Officer Paul “Bud” Caouette, who passed away in 2017. Benny Bud brings honor to both their names each and every day.

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APD K-9 Rocky - RETIRED

End of Watch: May 26, 2024

We will never forget Rocky's loyal service, his heart or his handsome face. He certainly lived up to the legacy of the hero he was named for. Rest easy, Rocky. Good boy. We have the watch from here.

Rocky joined our team in 2013. He was a beautiful, brilliant black and tan German shepherd, and he was named in honor of APD Officer Rodney “Rocky” Bonney, who was killed in the line of duty on April 6, 1981. Officer Bonney’s widow, Cherrie, got to meet her husband’s namesake when Rocky was sworn-in before Auburn’s City Council, and she very proudly ‘pinned’ his badge during the ceremony.

Rocky retired from service during a private ceremony held in December of 2021. This exceptional K9 faithfully served the citizens of Auburn as a dual-purpose narcotics/patrol dog. During his career, he was partnered with two former APD officers; first Tyler Ham, then Donald Cousins.

During his 8-year career, this extraordinary dog was deployed 345 times - for tracks, drug detection, building searches, article searches and apprehensions. He tracked and located suspects, missing juveniles, and items of evidence, and he helped stop crimes in progress. While he was a sweetheart at the station and at home, he deterred aggressive subjects that wanted to fight - until they saw or heard him.

In 2016, K9 Rocky earned the first ever Colton Guay Award during patrol school at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. And he was true ambassador of the Auburn PD, attending countless community events and K9 demonstrations, connecting with the people (especially the kids) of this community.

K9 Rocky lived out his well-deserved retirement with former Officer Cousins and his family.

APD K-9 Dutch - RETIRED

End of Watch: February 1, 2023

K-9 Officer Dutch was born in Canada on March 9, 2009. He was a black and tan pure-bred German Shepherd.

Dutch was purchased after a donated dog, Gunner, failed to have the proper traits needed to be a police K-9. His handler, Sergeant Kristopher Bouchard was 2 weeks into a 12 week Patrol School when it became apparent that Gunner would not make the cut. Dutch was purchased as a replacement using drug forfeiture money in March of 2010. Gunner found a home in the Skowhegan area with a civilian. Even though there was only 9 weeks left when Dutch began the training, he passed with flying colors. In fact, during a rugged terrain tracking exercise at Frye Mountain in Montville, Dutch was the only K-9 to find the person he was looking for after a track that was over a mile long, up the mountain. During patrol training, K-9s are trained in obedience, tracking, evidence searches, building searches, aggression and officer protection.

In September of 2010, Sergeant Bouchard and Dutch attended Narcotics Detection School, spending 8 weeks at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. During this school, Dutch was trained to detect marijuana, hash, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. The training took place in various locations that included searches in buildings, on boats, in vehicles and at airports. Sergeant Bouchard and Dutch successfully completed this training and graduated in November of 2010.

On the streets, this K-9 team was utilized by the Auburn PD as well as surrounding departments. They were used on a regular basis for tracking suspects and searching for drugs in vehicles, residences, correctional facilities and schools. The team also conducted demonstrations for many community organizations.

Dutch was a wonderful, social dog who loved attention and enjoyed work and play equally. He lived out his golden retirement years with Sergeant Bouchard and his family in Auburn. We will always remember this loyal, beautiful K9.

APD K-9 Inka - RETIRED

End of Watch: September 13, 2018

Inka was one of APD's two original K9 officers; she was retired from duty in 2013.

Inka was born in New York on May 9, 2005. She was a pure-bred female German Shepherd that was trained in the dog training art of Schuetzen. Inka began her tour of duty on March 20, 2007 at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) K-9 Patrol School, with her handler, Corporal Scott Corey.

Dogs come in an huge variety of shapes and sizes, and not every breed of dog is suited for police work. The key attributes of a successful police dog are intelligence, aggression, strength, and sense of smell. Inka possessed all of these, and so much more. She served our agency and this city well. She worked hard - she loved her job - and she served with heart and with courage.

Inka’s heart showed through in everything she did. She would allow the smallest child to pet her and kiss her; but she knew when it was time to work, tracking the bad guys with tenacity and ferocity. She was always right beside her handler, ready to face anything - clearing buildings, searching vehicles, wading through mud, water, woods...anything that was asked of her.

Inka lived out her well-deserved retirement with APD Patrol Officer Dennis Matthews and his family, where she was loved deeply. She was a very happy family pet, getting lots of love and attention, and romping with ‘her kids’ and her canine siblings.

We will always remember and honor Inka’s service to the Auburn Police Department.

We will always remember and honor Inka’s service to the Auburn Police Department. On behalf of a grateful community, thank you and rest easy, girl - we have it from here. Good girl.

APD K-9 Beny - RETIRED

End of Watch: October 27, 2011

One the APD’s two original K9 officers passed away in 2011.

Beny, a black German shepherd, proudly served the Auburn Police Department alongside his handler, Corporal Kris Bouchard, from 2007 to 2009. He was a trailblazer, serving as one of the department’s very first K9 officers. Originally from Slovakia, Beny was trained for patrol/tracking and for drug seizure. He was happily living out his well-earned retirement in Norway, Maine chasing squirrels and romping with his dog and kid friends. Rest well, Beny. We will miss you. Thank you for your service.