To support the Men and Women who wear the uniform along with their K9 partners through education, training and solidarity in deployments. Founded by first responders for first responders. Our programs provide the ongoing support needed to assist in these challenging times involving crisis incident response, peer support and ongoing community mental health response needs faced by frontline first responders.
– Sponsors –
At NAFRSK9, we are committed to enhancing the capabilities of first responders and their canine teams, improve the safety and well-being of both responders and the public, and contribute to the effective management of canine emergency deployments. The association further strives to develop national standards, coordinate training and create a network that will help agencies with logistical needs regarding support service canine deployments. At NAFRSK9, we believe that by uniting our efforts, we can create a positive future for first responders and support service canines.
Corporal Adam Zmija has been a police officer for 27 years. He started with the City of Detroit Police Department and he came to Garden Grove, in 2001. Corporal Zmija worked patrol until 2009, when he transferred to the Traffic Unit and worked for 5 years as a motor officer and 3 years as a Traffic Collision Investigator.
He returned back to patrol in 2017 and worked as a Field Training Officer (FTO), training new officers. In 2019, he began working in the Youth Services Unit as a new School Resource Officer, assigned to schools located on the west side of the city. In 2023, Corporal Zmija started working with K-9 Heart. K-9 Heart is a Support Service Canine and is a white English Labrador.
Officer Derek Link has been in law enforcement since 2001. Officer Link has worked several different assignments during his career. Officer Link has been a K9 Handler, a Field Training Officer, Bike Patrol Officer and SWAT operator. Officer Link’s favorite assignment has been the Canine Unit. Officer Link has over 17 years working with dogs. Officer Link worked with a patrol Belgian Malinois, crossed trained in apprehension and narcotic detection. Officer Link also worked with and trained another Belgian Malinois, which he used for the private sector for narcotic detection. Currently, Officer Link is assigned as a School Resource Officer Support Canine Handler. Officer Link’s new 4 legged partner is Canine Nellie. Nellie is a support canine that interacts with hundreds of students on a weekly basis.
Patrick Julienne has been a law enforcement officer with the Garden Grove Police Department for the past 33 years. He has worked various assignments including being a D.A.R.E. officer, field patrol, background investigator and other support related assignments. He is currently assigned to the Youth Services Unit as a School Resource Officer. During this time Officer Julienne and his colleagues developed and initiated the support canine program within the Garden Grove Police Department, becoming one of the department’s first support canine handlers. Since its inception, the program developed from two support dogs in 2022 to three dogs in 2023. Officer Julienne was able to further develop and submit the first “Public Safety Support Canine Course” to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) where the course was accepted and approved by the State of California. Officer Julienne has helped and partnered with several agencies to assist in the development of their own support canine programs. Officer Julienne ‘s K9 partner is K9 Misha, a 5 year old English Cream Retriever.
Lieutenant Scherer’s formal education consists of a Master’s Degree in Security Services from the Naval Postgraduate School, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, both from California State University, Fullerton.
Lieutenant Scherer began her law enforcement career over 27 years ago. She has worked for two other agencies (Orange, CA and Hampton, VA) before coming to the Irvine Police Department in June of 2003.
At the Irvine Police Department, she has been a patrol officer, Field Training Officer, and Detective. She was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and worked in Field Operations and Detectives as a Sergeant. She was promoted to Lieutenant in 2014. Lieutenant Scherer has served in all three department areas (Administration, Field Operations, and Support Operations). Lieutenant Scherer currently is working as a support operations Lieutenant that oversees the public information unit, dispatch, community outreach, peer support, honor guard, and chaplains.
I love my job and have enjoyed my 27 years of community service!
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