Bernalillo PD has a new four-legged member of the force

BERNALILLO — The Bernalillo Police Department announced on April 14 that a new K9 has joined the ranks, and his name is Diesel.

“K9 Diesel is an asset to all the officers of the Bernalillo Police Department and any other agency requesting his assistance, making their job safer and easier,” Bernalillo Chief of Police Chris Stoyell said.

Diesel, a 4-year-old German shepherd, completed the Police K9 Handler Course with K9 Services in 2023.

“He is certified in the detection of four illegal controlled substances and apprehension. K9 Diesel has multiple job duties, which include tracking, area searches, building searches and article searches,” Stoyell said. “K9 units in a police department provide numerous benefits, such as enhanced detection capabilities, deterrence, suspect apprehension, officer protection, public events and demos.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, research shows that facilities that have deployed K9 units see a reduction in crime and violence.

“K9 Diesel’s strongest area of work is the detection of illegal controlled substances. Taking illegal drugs off the streets makes the community a safer place for all the residents and visitors of the town of Bernalillo,” Stoyell said.