History
The Montebello Police Department was one of the "First Generation" K9 programs in the Southern California area. This program was started in 1981 through private donations from service organizations and the community . Ostroms Chevrolet, a local car dealer, donated two Chevrolet Nova police cars and two K-9’s were purchased from the money received.
The Montebello Police K-9 Services Unit had an extremely successful beginning and continued to gain popularity and community support. Ultimately the City of Montebello ended up funding the entire unit with no further donations required. Community support increased and after seeing how the Police Service Dogs were indeed an officer/citizen safety factor, a crime reduction factor and cost savings to the city, the city authorized two more K-9 team positions. The K9 Services Unit through the 80's and 90's totaled 4 fully operational K9 teams assigned to a centralized unit within the Field Services Bureau. Currently there are 3 operational K9 teams.
Lineage:
Unit Commanders
|
Lt. Joe Juiliano |
1981 to 1983 |
|
Lt. Bill Scholl |
1983 to 1984 |
| Lt. Jim Hogue | 1984 to 1992 |
| Lt. Bob Armitage | 1993 to 1995 |
| Lt. Gary Ridderhoff | 1996 |
| Lt. Dan Hibbard | 1996 |
| Lt. Govan Yee * | 1997 |
| Lt. Frank Gonzalez * | 1998 to 1999 |
| Lt. Mike Higashi * | 2000 to 2008 |
|
Lt. Brian Dragoo * |
2008 |
| Lt. Rich Meadows | 2008 |
* prior K9 handler
Unit Supervisors
| Sgt. Dave Gill | 1981 to 1983 |
| Sgt. Mike Higashi * | 1998 to 2000 |
| Sgt. Randy Jaso * | 2002 to 2007 |
| Sgt. Mike Bergman * | 2007 to present |
* prior K9 handler
Past and present K9 Services Unit Handlers & K9 Partners:
| Officer | K9 Partner (s) | Years of Service |
| Sr. Ofc. Joe Getner | K9 Arrow | 1981 to 1986 |
| Sr. Ofc. Frank Gonzalez | K9 Badger | 1982 to 1983 |
| Sr. Ofc. Terry Lundy | K9 Badger | 1983 to 1986 |
| Sr. Ofc. Govan Yee | K9 Roscoe | 1984 |
| Sr. Ofc. Bob Crawford | K9 Roscoe & K9 Monza | 1985 to 1991 |
| Sr. Ofc. Jeff Hames | K9 Hero | 1986 to 1991 |
| Sr. Ofc. Bob Lindmayer | K9 Fix | 1987 to 1988 |
| Ofc. Mike Hinson | K9 Fix, K9 Lump & K9 Marko | 1987 to 1992 |
| Sr. Ofc. Doug Gorman | K9 Lump & K9 Axel | 1988 to 1993 |
| Sr. Ofc. Ben Sotelo | K9 Hero & K9 Alan | 1991 to 1994 |
| Sr. Ofc. Randy Jaso | K9 Monza & K9 Alan | 1991 to 1998 |
| Sr. Ofc. Brian Dragoo | K9 Urax | 1991 to 1992 |
| Sr. Ofc. Mike Duggan | K9 Urax | 1992 to 1996 |
| Sr. Ofc. Mike Higashi | K9 Marko & K9 Rudy | 1992 to 1998 |
| Cpl. Rick Money | K9 Sarge & K9 Ares | 1999 to 2008 |
| Cpl. Mike Bergman | K9 Rudi, K9 Bronco | 1999 to 2007 |
| Cpl. Steve Sharpe | K9 Ozze | 2007 to present |
| Cpl. Boris Zeissig | K9 Roger | 2007 to present |
OLD TEAM PHOTO'S
click on thumbnails for full size photo