New Scottsdale Police Crisis K9 Coming To Coronado High School

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The Scottsdale Police Department has a new Crisis Response K9, who will spend much of his time at Coronado High School, according to a news release.

The new K9, a 9-month-old golden doodle named Captain, is partnered with Scottsdale School Resource Office Alvin Pease. In addition to Coronado High School, the two will also travel to other schools in southern Scottsdale, as needed.

Captain is the department's third Crisis Response K9 and its second to be partnered with a school resource officer. Captain is certified as a facility dog and is trained to help soothe people experiencing anxiety, depression, or who are in a manic state with a rise cortisol levels, according to the news release.

"Captain’s duties will include providing comfort to victims, calming high-stress situations, and bridging gaps with students and community members," Scottsdale police said in the news release.

All Scottsdale Police School Resource Officers are trained in crisis intervention and have experience dealing with students' behavioral health-related challenges.

Scottsdale police hope that Captain can help students with autism and mental illnesses, like anxiety and depression.

Captain came to the Scottsdale Police Department from and was trained by DogTrainer U.S. in Peoria. Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation paid for the K9 program and hopes to expand the program to other Scottsdale Unified schools.