When Starkville Police Department K9 handler Parker Madeen first met SPD’s K9 Kojack, he knew Kojack was the perfect dog not only for the department, but to be his partner.

Madeen traveled from Starkville to Indiana in search of finding a dog to assist SPD in drug and missing person searches. Madeen met several dogs during his first day at the training site, but Kojack was the one he instantly bonded with.

“That Thursday evening we were just laying out in the yard,” Madeen said. “He had high energy and was just running and running around. So, I sat down in the grass, and he actually came up and rubbed up against me and lay in my lap. I said, ‘Okay, that’s my dog.’”

K9 Kojack is a 2-year-old German shorthaired pointer from Hungary who assists SPD in patrol and narcotics searches. After a month of training, Kojack and Madeen officially began their partnership at SPD in June 2021.

Kojack has been trained in drug sensing and tracking runaway suspects or lost and missing people. Madeen motivates Kojack with balls and toys, and once Kojack completes his mission, he is rewarded with toys and high praise.

“You essentially make it a game for them,” Madeen said. “They don’t really care what drugs are. When they smell that odor, that’s their game, their prey. They’re imprinted with each drug and for the next month or so, it’s just reinforcing that odor and the reward process for them.”

After a donation from dog-protecting nonprofit organization Vested Interest, Kojack will soon receive body armor to keep him guarded on the job. This bullet and stab protective vest is worth $960 and will be delivered within the next six to eight weeks. Madeen said he is excited for Kojack to be protected by a vest just like human officers are.

Kojack and Madeen stay together 24/7 not only as business partners, but family members. When Kojack is finished at work for the day, he comes home at night with Madeen, ensuring their bond remains intact. Aside from the one month of training prior to beginning work at SPD, Kojack and Madeen also train nearly 50 hours a month to maintain Kojack’s skill set.

Madeen said Kojack has been instrumental to SPD, especially aiding in proactivity by giving officers access to certain things humans cannot perform such as identifying probable cause to search vehicles. Madeen said Kojack has also helped the department’s overall morale.

“The officers love him,” Madeen said. “When they hear him in the hall, they’ll call out to him to come play. He gives them a break from what they see on the streets.”

SPD Chief Mark Ballard echoed Madeen, saying Kojack has greatly benefited the department.

“Kojack is an amazing investment for our organization,” Ballard said. “In his short time with our department, he has proven that dogs are very special in their capabilities. We are blessed to have additional equipment that protects him.”

Madeen said his original goal when he entered law enforcement was to be a K9 handler, and he couldn’t imagine working with any other dog than Kojack.

“I literally get paid to play with a dog,” Madeen said. “It’s been awesome. Just from taking him and training him in something new and watching him accomplish that. It’s an extremely proud moment.”