As the City of Kyle’s first police K-9 team, Officer McClaran and K-9 Atlas work together to provide another layer of support for officers and help keep the community safe.
Atlas is trained to detect narcotics, track suspects and locate missing people, while also participating in community outreach. His abilities allow the Kyle Police Department to search areas more efficiently and provide additional support to officers during potentially dangerous situations.
Becoming an effective K-9 team takes more than training. McClaran and Atlas spend nearly every day together, continuously building the trust and understanding needed to work as one team. McClaran has learned to recognize when Atlas is excited, confused, stressed or ready to work simply by reading his behavior.
For McClaran, though, the partnership is about more than the work.
“The bond is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” McClaran said. “You don’t realize how much work it is, how much fun it is, and how much you can bond with an animal.”
The addition of McClaran and Atlas gives the Kyle Police Department another tool to support its officers and respond to the needs of a growing community.
