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| Last updated November 16, 2009. |
K-9 Crime Fighters
Draco is an 8-year-old, 65-pound German Shepherd who has served in APD's K-9 Patrol
for 8 years. Originally from Czechoslovakia, he has been with his handler, Officer DJ
Lahr for 8 years.
At 65 pounds, Draco is the smallest dog in K-9 Patrol, but he more than makes up for
his small size by the intensity of his working drives and fierce loyalty to his handler. He
loves his Kong toy and food treats and likes to play roughly. He is a very vocal police
dog and is infamous for his howling and barking when enroute to Patrol K-9 calls.
Draco has retired in the summer of 2008 and will live with his former handler.
Unfortunately, Draco has passed away from cancer. His handler was with him every
step of the way. Draco was 9 years old.
for 8 years. Originally from Czechoslovakia, he has been with his handler, Officer DJ
Lahr for 8 years.
At 65 pounds, Draco is the smallest dog in K-9 Patrol, but he more than makes up for
his small size by the intensity of his working drives and fierce loyalty to his handler. He
loves his Kong toy and food treats and likes to play roughly. He is a very vocal police
dog and is infamous for his howling and barking when enroute to Patrol K-9 calls.
Draco has retired in the summer of 2008 and will live with his former handler.
Unfortunately, Draco has passed away from cancer. His handler was with him every
step of the way. Draco was 9 years old.
Draco
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THE BANK BAG - I was called to assist in finding two bank robbers. There was information that the suspects fled into a
large wooded area. I had Draco search the area for the robbers. As Draco searched, he gave scent indications ahead of me
in some brush. I thought I saw some clothing in the heavy brush, so Draco and I took cover and called out some warnings.
No one came out and I could see that it may just be part of a clothing item. I had Draco search ahead to clear the heavy
brush. As I approached, I could see that it was a large bag. The bag was open and all I saw were bundles of cash inside
the bag. Turns out that we recovered the Bank’s stolen money, over $34,000 worth… Draco didn’t get a cut!
“JUST ONE LAST HIT OFFICER” - I was called to search for a robbery suspect. The suspect had robbed a person of his
wallet at knife point. I had Draco search a creek area for the hidden suspect. Draco took me to an area were we could not
get into the creek area itself due to a tall chain link fence. Draco gave me scent indications down in the creek area. I used
my flashlight and could see the suspect hiding under a large bush. He stood up and gave up. But I could not get down to
him. I guess he figured out he was caught, so he looked up at me and Draco and told me “Just one last hit officer”. He then
proceeded to flick his lighter and take some quick hits form a crack cocaine pipe. We rushed down to the creek area to stop
him and make the arrest. As we finally got to him, he dropped the crack pipe and put his hands behind his back. He told me
he was going away for a long time, so he might as well get his last hit. I found it hard to argue with that logic….
“THAT’S JUST A LITTLE DOG” - I was called to a burglary of a business in progress. This area was experiencing a rash of
burglaries for several weeks, and now a witness saw two suspects break a window and enter a store. They came out with
stolen merchandise as patrol units were closing in. They ran off into a dark wooded area. I had Draco search and he gave
me scent indications in the brush. One of the suspects stood up and ran off as we approached his hiding area. He was
dropping watches, bracelets, and other stolen items as he ran. I yelled warnings to stop, but he would not. Draco chased
the suspect down and took him down to the ground. The suspect yelled “That’s just a little dog”, and began hitting Draco
around the head and body. Draco grabbed his leg and the suspect yelled out that he gave up. There was no more fight left
in the suspect. Funny thing is I noticed that Draco was wagging his tail the whole time. He seemed to like showing he was
not so little after all!
DRACO’S FINAL ARREST - I thought it was worth noting the details of Draco’s last take down. It is fitting for
him to have helped protect another officer during a high stress arrest - Draco and I were patrolling the city, when
an officer was involved in a vehicle pursuit. The officer had no other units behind him to back him up. I was close by and
became the second unit in the pursuit. The suspect vehicle kept changing directions and making turns. This left only the
original officer and I close enough to follow. The suspect eventually crashed the vehicle and jumped out. He began running
down the street and the other officer ran after him. I was a few seconds behind and got out with Draco to help with the
arrest. As I looked down the street, I saw the original officer on the ground in the middle of the road. The officer was yelling
loudly in pain as the suspect stood over him. I feared that the officer had been stabbed or severally hurt by the suspect. I did
not want the suspect to attack the officer on the ground, so I sent Draco to stop him. The suspect saw Draco coming and
ran off. Draco was faster and took the suspect down. I caught up and together, we took the suspect into custody. Turns out
that the officer and suspect went to the ground during the chase and the officer tore his knee. He was in recovery for many
months due to the injury.
large wooded area. I had Draco search the area for the robbers. As Draco searched, he gave scent indications ahead of me
in some brush. I thought I saw some clothing in the heavy brush, so Draco and I took cover and called out some warnings.
No one came out and I could see that it may just be part of a clothing item. I had Draco search ahead to clear the heavy
brush. As I approached, I could see that it was a large bag. The bag was open and all I saw were bundles of cash inside
the bag. Turns out that we recovered the Bank’s stolen money, over $34,000 worth… Draco didn’t get a cut!
“JUST ONE LAST HIT OFFICER” - I was called to search for a robbery suspect. The suspect had robbed a person of his
wallet at knife point. I had Draco search a creek area for the hidden suspect. Draco took me to an area were we could not
get into the creek area itself due to a tall chain link fence. Draco gave me scent indications down in the creek area. I used
my flashlight and could see the suspect hiding under a large bush. He stood up and gave up. But I could not get down to
him. I guess he figured out he was caught, so he looked up at me and Draco and told me “Just one last hit officer”. He then
proceeded to flick his lighter and take some quick hits form a crack cocaine pipe. We rushed down to the creek area to stop
him and make the arrest. As we finally got to him, he dropped the crack pipe and put his hands behind his back. He told me
he was going away for a long time, so he might as well get his last hit. I found it hard to argue with that logic….
“THAT’S JUST A LITTLE DOG” - I was called to a burglary of a business in progress. This area was experiencing a rash of
burglaries for several weeks, and now a witness saw two suspects break a window and enter a store. They came out with
stolen merchandise as patrol units were closing in. They ran off into a dark wooded area. I had Draco search and he gave
me scent indications in the brush. One of the suspects stood up and ran off as we approached his hiding area. He was
dropping watches, bracelets, and other stolen items as he ran. I yelled warnings to stop, but he would not. Draco chased
the suspect down and took him down to the ground. The suspect yelled “That’s just a little dog”, and began hitting Draco
around the head and body. Draco grabbed his leg and the suspect yelled out that he gave up. There was no more fight left
in the suspect. Funny thing is I noticed that Draco was wagging his tail the whole time. He seemed to like showing he was
not so little after all!
DRACO’S FINAL ARREST - I thought it was worth noting the details of Draco’s last take down. It is fitting for
him to have helped protect another officer during a high stress arrest - Draco and I were patrolling the city, when
an officer was involved in a vehicle pursuit. The officer had no other units behind him to back him up. I was close by and
became the second unit in the pursuit. The suspect vehicle kept changing directions and making turns. This left only the
original officer and I close enough to follow. The suspect eventually crashed the vehicle and jumped out. He began running
down the street and the other officer ran after him. I was a few seconds behind and got out with Draco to help with the
arrest. As I looked down the street, I saw the original officer on the ground in the middle of the road. The officer was yelling
loudly in pain as the suspect stood over him. I feared that the officer had been stabbed or severally hurt by the suspect. I did
not want the suspect to attack the officer on the ground, so I sent Draco to stop him. The suspect saw Draco coming and
ran off. Draco was faster and took the suspect down. I caught up and together, we took the suspect into custody. Turns out
that the officer and suspect went to the ground during the chase and the officer tore his knee. He was in recovery for many
months due to the injury.
Patrice Palmer of Austin Animal Art
did the artwork of Draco below from the
photograph above.
did the artwork of Draco below from the
photograph above.
| Officer Lahr & Draco in front of APD's Air One |
| Draco doesn't like many people, but he loves his handler |
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| Officer Lahr & Draco Training |
Draco Stories (in his handler's own words):
| HIgh Risk Traffic Stop Training |
