CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department announced the retirement of two of its police K9s, Dex and Max.

While the two dedicated dogs are hanging up their badges, the agency is planning to introduce two new K9s, with two new handlers chosen from among the department's ranks, according to Sgt. Travis Lenz.

Both Dex and Max have done outstanding work within the community and their retirement is well deserved, said Lenz.

Lenz said Dex was brought into the Clearlake Police Department in 2010. At that time the department wanted to establish a new K9 program but was having difficulty with establishing it due to budgetary issues.

The department reached out to the public, which Lenz said responded generously. Through donations, t-shirt sales as well as other fundraising efforts, funding was collected for a canine.

After lengthy research to find the right fit for the department, Dex was selected and has served the community ever since. Lenz said Dex has also been used in narcotic detections as well after he received additional training for that discipline in 2012.

Max was donated to the department by another agency and has been serving the Clearlake community since 2012, Lenz said.

Lenz said both canines are being retired based on their age in addition to their handlers being reassigned to other duties.

Officer Elvis Cook, who had been Max’s handler, has been assigned to the investigations unit as a detective, said Lenz, who had been Dex’s handler and has been promoted to patrol sergeant.

Lenz said he and Det. Cook are still maintaining their involvement in the canine program. Lenz is assuming duties as the canine supervisor and Cook as a canine agitator, and they will continue to assist in fundraising efforts as well.

The Clearlake Police K9 Program has been extremely successful, according to Lenz, who said the highly trained dogs have provided an invaluable service to the community.

During the time the K9s have been in service, they have had hundreds of surrenders where suspects would have otherwise physically resisted officers, placing them at risk of injury, Lenz said.

In addition, Lenz the dogs have had numerous apprehensions where it was necessary to use canines in capturing dangerous suspects.

Due to the success of the police K9 program, Lenz said the Clearlake Police Department wants to continue offering that level of service to the community.

Through donations and continued fundraising efforts, funding has been secured for the purchase of two new K9 as well as the training costs for the two new canine handlers, he said.

An extensive selection process was conducted and Lenz said two officers have been chosen for the positions – Officer Travis Parson and Officer Mark Harden.

Parson, an officer with the department for the past two years, has been extremely involved in the K9 program, having been an agitator and assisted with fundraising efforts, Lenz said.

Harden, who has worked in law enforcement for more than 15 years, recently was hired by the Clearlake Police Department from another agency, Lenz said. During his career, Officer Harden previously had been a canine handler and agitator.

It is anticipated that both officers will continue the successful progress that has already been made with canine unit and the city of Clearlake, Lenz said.

Lenz said the Clearlake Police Department K9 Unit is solely funded by the community through fundraising. Without these donations, the unit would not exist, Lenz said.

Working in partnership with the community, the police department has been able to obtain the two new canines, which Lenz said are invaluable tools in regard to increasing community safety as well as apprehending violent fugitives.

Now that the two new dogs have been purchased to succeed Dex and Max, Lenz said Clearlake Police Department personnel thought it was an excellent opportunity to allow local students to name the dogs as a gesture of thanks for the community's support.

Lenz said Burns Valley Elementary School, Pomo Elementary School and Konocti Education Center have been selected to participate in naming the police K9.

All students in the sixth and seventh grades will draw a picture of a police K9 and then pick a name. The student with the best drawing and name will get to meet the new canine officers and their dogs, take photographs and name the new police dogs, Lenz said.

The completion will be completed on Monday, Dec. 14, at which time the two winners will be announced, Lenz said.

The Clearlake Police K9 Unit thanked all of the students participating in this process, wished them good luck, and said they are very excited to see the names and drawings that will be submitted.