Mission
It is the mission of the canine unit to provide specialized services of highly trained canine team to support field units in the performance of their duties.  Unit members shall assist in evidence location that may be of value in a criminal case.

Background
In October 2009, the Los Lunas Police Department selected Horacio DeAnda as its first K-9 Officer.  Three employees were interviewed for the position and any of these officers would have made a great Canine Officer. Having three very qualified candidates, the deciding factor in Chief Melnick’s selection was Officer DeAnda’s residency within the Village. Chief Melnick wanted the canine to be housed in the Village of Los Lunas so there would be a shorter response time when the canine is called out. Officer safety is of the utmost priority and a canine who resides in the Village will be there more quickly when called upon, also providing better police services.

In November of 2009, The Los Lunas Police Department selected its first K-9, a black German shepherd from Germany, who was named “Ricky Luna” in honor of Los Lunas’s founding family.