The Indiana K-9 Resource Protection Program started in 1997 with a pilot program of two teams. It was quickly realized the effectiveness of this type of program. The program quickly grew to a team of 10 K-9 Units that are located throughout the state of Indiana. The team has at least one K9 Unit in all ten Law Enforcement Districts.
Indiana's K9 Resource Protection is not only well respected in Indiana, but also recognized as one of the top programs in the nation. Indiana has also helped start and train teams from natural resource agencies in Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as from the African country of Zambia.
Indiana K-9 Resource Protection teams are trained in man-tracking, wildlife detection and article searches. All canines are trained to located whitetail deer, wild turkey, waterfowl and ginseng. Other species are added depending on the geographic area of Indiana the handler is located. Are teams excel in man-tracking and locating firearms.
K-9 teams provide the officers in their districts with another tool to help stop poaching. In the past 22 years, K-9 teams across the state were involved in over six thousand cases. They have been used to find hidden game and guns, shell casings in road hunting and spotlighting cases. They are used to find lost hunters and poachers that have tried to hide from officers. Because of their unique abilities, state and local law enforcement agencies often request them to find evidence in their cases and to assist in locating missing persons or fleeing felons. Dozens of murder suspects have been apprehended by the use of our canines.
Donate to the K-9 Resource Protection Program
The K-9 Resource Protection Program is currently funded by donations from individuals, outdoor organizations as well as foundations. You can help our program grow and succeed by making a donation today. No donation is considered to small.
Meet Indiana's K-9 Teams
- K-9 Branch and his handler Indiana Conservation Officer Matt Tholen
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) Branch (K-9 25) is a 1 1/2-year-old, yellow male Labrador retriever. He was donated by Guardian-K9 and the 550 Foundation on Dec. 1, 2022.K-9 Branch is partnered with ICO Matt Tholen in Tippecanoe County and can often be found at Prophetstown State Park and patrolling the lakes and rivers of operational District 3. Together, they graduated K-9 school in 2023. Officer Tholen has served since 2003 and is the K-9 coordinator for the Indiana Canine Resource Protection Program.
During their short time together, Officer Tholen and K-9 Branch have been successful in human tracking, wildlife detection and evidence recovery. They are excited to work together over the next several years.
K-9 Branch is named after the sheriff’s deputy Brach Connelly who is a character from the Netflix series Longmire.
- K-9 Murphy and his handler Indiana Conservation Officer Dustin Cary
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) Murphy (K-9 33) is a male, yellow Labrador retriever. He was born in December 2022.K-9 Murphy graduated the ICO’s K-9 School in 2024, where he exceled at human tracking, article searches such as evidence recovery, and wildlife detection, which includes deer, turkey, waterfowl, and ginseng. He also assists other law enforcement agencies and makes professional appearances at educational programs.
K-9 Murphy’s handler is ICO Dustin Cary, a nine-year field officer, and Murphy is his second K-9. They are assigned to District 5 and reside in Sullivan County.
- K-9 Jagger and his handler Indiana Conservation Officer Jake Carlisle
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) K-9 Jagger is a male, Labrador retriever mix who is approximately 9 years old. His exact birthdate is unknown born in an animal shelter in another state. K-9 Jagger's color is a brownish-silver due to a possible mix with a Weimaraner, Chesapeake Bay retriever, or other similar breeds.K-9 was originally a shelter dog from South Dakota who was re-homed to Indianapolis. He donated by Professional Trainer Julie Case of Ultimate Canine in Westfield. Funding for his training was donated by the Northeast Indiana Chapter of Safari Club International.
K-9 Jagger is partnered with ICO Jake Carlile since 2016 in LaGrange County and can often be found at Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area, near Mongo.
- K-9 Jaycie and her handler Indiana Conservation Officer Zach Walker
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) Jaycie (K-9 36) is a female flat coated retriever that was born in August 2022. She was acquired by donations received from Jenning’s County Sheriff’s Department, Jenning’s County Prosecutor’s Office, and Jackson County’s Prosecutor’s Office and is named for those agencies.K-9 Jaycie graduated the ICO’s K-9 School in 2024 where she exceled in human tracking, wildlife detection including deer, turkey, waterfowl and ginseng, and in article searching such as evidence recovery. She also assists other law enforcement agencies and makes professional appearances at educational programs.
K-9 Jaycie’s handler is ICO Zach Walker, a 15-year field officer, and she is his second K-9. They are assigned to District 9 and reside in Jennings County.
- K-9 Marsh and his handler Indiana Conservation Officer Pat Malia
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) K-9 Marsh (K-9 29) is a 6-year-old, black, male Labrador retriever, born on March 11, 2017. He was donated by Patrick Griggs from Princeton, Illinois. K-9 Marsh’s parents are both affiliated with the Kankakee River Hunting Retriever Club.K-9 Marsh is partnered with ICO Pat Malia in Jasper County and can often be found at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. Together, they graduated from K-9 school in 2017. Officer Malia has served since 2009. K-9 Marsh is Officer Malia's first K-9.
During their short time together, Officer Malia and K-9 Marsh have been successful in human tracking, wildlife detection and evidence recovery. They are excited to work together over the next several years.
- K-9 Smoky and his handler Indiana Conservation Officer Jim Schreck
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) K-9 Smoky (K-9 32) is a black, male Labrador retriever. Born on April 12, 2019, K-9 Smoky is 4 years old. He was donated by Beth and Jared Krawcyzk of North Vernon.K-9 Smoky is partnered with ICO Jim Schreck in Harrison County and can often be found at O’Bannon Woods State Park or within Harrison-Crawford State Forest. Together, they graduated K-9 school in 2020. K-9 Smoky is Officer Schreck's first K-9.
During their time together, Officer Schreck and K-9 Smoky have been successful in human tracking, wildlife detection and evidence recovery. They make a great team and are excited to continue working together over the next several years.
- K-9 TK and his handler Indiana Conservation Officer Jon Cook
K9-TK (K9-25) is an 8-year-old, male German shorthaired pointer (GSP) who joined the ICO K-9 team in 2016. K-9 TK was the youngest K-9 in his 2016 graduation class. K-9 TK received support from Tom Kelley of Ft. Wayne, for whom TK is named. He was also sponsored by the Northeast Indiana Chapter of Safari Club International. K-9 TK was obtained through Bona Kennels of North Judson.K-9 TK is an athletic and solid-sized GSP who carries himself with a lot of poise. Speed and stamina are some of his strongest traits. He can cover a lot of ground. K-9 TK also has a phenomenal nose, loves the water, has a desire to retrieve and a strong play drive. These characteristics provide K-9 TK with the ability to perform his job as an ICO K-9 confidently. As with the rest of the ICO K-9 Team, K-9 TK is trained in article searches and wildlife detection along with ginseng detection. K-9 TK has worked with training in detection of trout and salmon.
K-9 TK is partnered with ICO Jon Cook where they primarily patrol Fulton county and District 1.
- K-9 Frank and his handler Indiana Conservation Officer Levi Knach
Indiana Conservation Officer (ICO) Frank (K-9 37) is a male black Labrador retriever that was born in November 2022. He was donated by Woodstock Retrievers where he was bred for waterfowl hunting, which made the transition easier to Natural Resource protection.
K-9 Frank graduated the ICO’s K-9 School in 2024, where he exceled at human tracking, article searches such as evidence recovery, and wildlife detection, which includes deer, turkey, waterfowl, and ginseng. He also assists other law enforcement agencies and makes professional appearances at educational programs.
K9-Frank’s handler is ICO Levi Knach, a 15-year field officer. Frank is Knach’s second K-9. They are assigned to District 2 and reside in Whitely County.
