Mill Creek is known for many things--a thriving town center with dozens of businesses, a successful high school with one of the best graduation rates in the state, a community centered around connection. But above all, the city is touted for its safety, largely due to the work of the Mill Creek Police Department. Our police force is very passionate about their work, and one such example is Hondo, a German Shepherd K9 in the unit. A K9 is a police dog, or canine, thus the name. Using a dog’s abilities, human officers locate criminals as well as evidence. Hondo is a “dual-purpose” K9. He is certified in patrol which consists of tracking, searching for evidence, apprehending a suspect, etc. Hondo is no stranger to this work, earning his certification with his handler, Corporal Nathan Lerma, in 2020. Hondo’s other certification, acquired about a year ago, is in narcotics. Hondo uses his sense of smell to detect illegal substances. Over the years, the duo have worked together on many cases. But before that, they had to train. 

Corporal Lerma met Hondo at a reputable vendor halfway across the country. There were many handlers on the trip, all with the quest of finding their partner. Upon finding Hondo, Corporal Lerma immediately knew this was the dog he wanted. However, he had difficulty when coming up with a name for his new partner. He struggled with the topic but got the idea from a friend during a discussion about dog names. To them, it was a homage to the famous Western classic “Hondo”, starring John Wayne. Also, it was the name of a character in “SWAT”, another cop thriller. “It was just a cool name, and no one else was really using it at the time,” said Corporal Lerma in an interview. So Hondo came back to Washington to live with Corporal Lerma, where he has stayed ever since. 

Initially the pair trained for over 400 hours to prepare for working in the field as a patrol team. However, they accrued another 200 hours during training for Hondo’s narcotics certification. Typically, K9 teams train together. “You have to have other like-minded people to be more proficient,” explained Corporal Lerma. “Sometimes, you need someone else to hold you to a high standard.” This standard is incredibly important to the pair; they train almost 40 hours a month. 

As for work, Hondo is unmatched, largely because of his sheer enthusiasm. “He’s really excited when we go to work, because he knows that’s where we do all the fun stuff,” laughed Corporal Lerma. Hondo’s gusto is an invaluable asset to the police force, and sometimes, is irreplaceable. One example of this was a call the pair received for an evidence search. They were called to search for evidence, and it had been narrowed down to a few hundred feet around a house. Hondo got to work immediately, using his extensive training to detect the evidence. During the search, Corporal Lerma noticed Hondo’s great interest in one tire on a car in the area. “He had sort of jammed his head into the wheel well, which was very out-of-character,” he shared. After feeling around, Corporal Lerma was shocked to find the evidence hidden behind the tire! “It was in a place no human would ever think to check. Only a dog could have found that,” he marveled.

In his free time, Hondo likes to rest; police work is not easy. He stays in “the Taj Mahal of kennels,” as Corporal Lerma puts it. It has outdoor access as well as a heated area. Hondo is not the type of dog to constantly seek attention, preferring his solitude and walks with Corporal Lerma. Hondo loves to work, so home is just a resting place before he gets to work again. Corporal Lerma and Hondo can also be seen volunteering at community events, such as demonstrations. Also, Corporal Lerma often posts the K9’s successes on Hondo’s social media, garnering hundreds of viewers. But at the end of the day, Hondo loves his work the most. And Hondo's work is vital. A K9’s use of smell is something no other investigative tool can use, making them able to “see through bushes and fences.” K9s are the only method of force that can be dismissed if a culprit surrenders. Communities identify strongly with dogs, bringing publicity to the police force. Hondo is good for all these things, and more. Be on the lookout for this duo out and about in Mill Creek!