The Loveland Police Department swore in its newest officer – K9 Cruz — on Jan. 11.
Cruz is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois and was selected from a military breeding program in Kentucky for his relaxed and playful personality. Officer Kyle Bibelhausen and Cruz have been training with Bulletproof K9 for the last 1.5 years.
Cruz passed all Ohio Peace Officer Training and LPD certification standards in late 2021. Cruz's certification includes narcotics detection, tracking, apprehension, and handler protection. Cruz is particularly strong in detection work and loves to use his powerful nose. He is scheduled to compete in national K9 certifications this spring.
Cruz — like Argo, Azar, and Mack before him — was donated by the Matt Haverkamp Foundation, a non-profit that supports law enforcement agencies in Greater Cincinnati. Since 2005, the Foundation has donated more than 80 dogs to law enforcement agencies around the Tri-State.
About The Matt Haverkamp Foundation
The Matt Haverkamp Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 established in 2005 in remembrance of a beloved K9 police officer. The mission of the foundation is to continue Matt’s legacy and keep his memory alive by supporting law enforcement agencies in Greater Cincinnati. Matt was a police officer for the Golf Manor Police Department in 1999 where he founded the department’s bicycle patrol and K9 Unit. Matt and his K9 partner, “Tibo,” had a significant impact on the community’s safety. To learn more about the foundation, please click here.