Community Corner
Tulsa Officer And K9 Partner Honored As Heroes After Dramatic Arrest
Officer Lucas Temple and K9 Vander tracked down and helped apprehend a break-in suspect hiding atop an elevator in downtown Tulsa.
Tulsa Police Officer Lucas Temple and his four-legged partner, K9 Officer Vander, have been recognized as the latest “Heroes of the Day” by Tulsa Crime Stoppers for their courageous actions during a recent business break-in.
The incident took place on Jan. 28 at The Xcapery Escape Rooms near East 6th Street and South Boston Avenue. After a suspect was caught on security cameras and then disabled multiple devices during the crime, officers were left searching for hours. But it was K9 Officer Vander who ultimately found the hidden suspect — perched on top of an elevator.
At the time, Officer Temple didn’t immediately realize Vander was alerting him to the suspect's location.
“I thought that he was just being excited that we were getting on this elevator with other officers in close proximity,” Temple told FOX 23 News. “I didn't realize until later that he was alerting to someone being on top of the elevator."
Vander’s instincts proved spot-on. His sharp nose and specialized training led to the suspect’s discovery and arrest, highlighting just how vital K9 officers are in the field.
“These dogs do incredible things,” Temple told FOX 23 News. “To see him get the recognition he deserves is incredible.”
This marks the first time Tulsa Crime Stoppers has awarded the “Hero of the Day” honor to a K9 officer. The award is reserved for first responders who go above and beyond to protect the community.
Officer Temple has nothing but praise for his partner of two years. "They're highly trained and it's really cool to see the recognition he's getting,” he said. “The way I see it is, I'm just a glorified dog walker. He does everything. I literally just follow him, and he knows what he's doing."