05-03-2025
Meet Wicket and Zena: CSPD's new Explosives Detection K9s
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) introduced two new four-legged members to their Regional Explosives Unit (REU) on Tuesday, March 4, as K9 Wicket and K9 Zena were welcomed to the team.
According to CSPD, in July of 2024, Charter Communications gave a donation of nearly $14,000 to the Police Foundation of Colorado Springs to purchase a new Explosives Detection K9, and the funding provided enough to be combined with additional donations and grants to buy a second dog.
Wicket and Zena were purchased and provided initial training by the vendor. Once CSPD Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Bomb Technicians received the dogs in January, they continued the training and bonding with the dogs, creating two great new K9 and handler teams.
Charter Communications also helped name the dogs, as employees submitted name ideas that were given to the handler to choose from.
'The names were submitted as part of an employee competition to see which name was going to be the most appropriate for the dog,' said Chris Chenoweth, CSPD Officer and Bomb Technician. 'After a while and spending some time with the dog, it became fairly apparent which one was the most suitable based on how the dog behaves and his personality.'
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