K9s in the community: Officer Hickman & Redmond

Maryville Police Department’s Officer Ryan Hickman describes his partner as a wrecking ball with a tail.

Redmond, a 3 1/2-year-old Belgian Malinois/Shepherd mix, has been working with Hickman for two years.

Redmond is not only an astute and dedicated K-9 but also a ladies man who has won the heart of one of Hickman’s two Australian Shepherds, Myrtle.

“I’ve always been an animal lover since I was a small child,” Hickman said.

Growing up, Hickman always had dogs and cats around. He said that regardless of temperament, he has always been able to connect with animals. When Hickman started his career in law enforcement six years ago, he knew at the start that he wanted to work with a K-9.

“That’s what I wanted to do before anything else,” said Hickman

When Hickman was matched with Redmond two years ago, the pair lived together at Shallow Creek Kennels in Pennsylvania. There, the two trained together for six weeks.

Hickman explained that the training was more focused on the handler, as the K-9s are trained prior to being matched. At Shallow Creek, handlers learn every aspect of working with their K-9, from narcotics training to how to hold a leash properly.

Hickman said Redmond, who was 1 1/2 years old during the training, did exceptionally well. Hickman called him a push-button dog, meaning that Redmond is able to take on tasks without much instruction from Hickman.

“He’s a rock star,” said Hickman.

Hickman had been on the force for four years before becoming a handler. He said he felt like a brand new officer again when he was first paired with Redmond. He had to see things differently and learn how to operate with the new responsibilities that come with a K-9.

Hickman’s first call with Redmond was with a neighboring agency, so the pressure was on to make a good impression as a new K9 handler. They were assisting a routine traffic stop and needed Redmond to perform a narcotics sniff. Hickman said everything fell into place and he credits the intensive training he and Redmond went through at Shallow Creek.

Things aren’t always so simple, though.

Hickman said it can be dangerous to be a K-9 handler. The K-9 and handler are the “tip of the spear” when it comes to catching a suspect, he explained. They are often the first called in to track someone, and that person could very well be dangerous.

Hickman recalled one of his most memorable experiences to date. He and Redmond were tracking a robbery suspect in a wooded area behind Green Acres Flea Market. The suspect was armed with a pistol and wearing a camouflage jacket. In situations like these, “you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Hickman.

This was the first time Hickman texted his wife and children while on the job to tell them he loved them.

It was hard, during that incredibly stressful track, not to think about a story he was told during his time in Shallow Creek.

Hickman said while in training at Shallow Creek, Officer William Cushing, of Braintree Pennsylvania Police Department, spoke with the group of trainees about the death of his K-9, Kitt.

Cushing and Kitt were on a similar track to Hickman’s; they were in a wooded area, tracking an armed suspect. The suspect had hidden behind a large rock. When Kitt charged at him, he fired several rounds, fatally shooting Kitt and injuring Cushing.

Hickman said Cushing told the group, “You are now eight times more likely to be involved in an officer-involved shooting.”

Still, Hickman loves working with Redmond and says it’s a great feeling watching him excel.

Hickman says his favorite part of working with Redmond is “the satisfaction of feeling like a proud dad when your child hits that home run.”

According to Hickman, Redmond’s favorite task to perform is apprehension. Hickman says in training, the K-9s see the bite glove as “just a big moving squishy dog toy.” They aren’t biting out of spite, Hickman explained; they are following their drive.

Hickman says that when he’s off-duty at home, Redmond is great with his family. Redmond, who still has that young energy, likes to parkour off Hickman’s furniture. But, Redmond is also happy to lay down with a good bone — as long as Hickman is in sight.