Finny, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever, sniffed for firearms and explosives as part of Denver Public Schools’ K-9 weapon-detection pilot program this semester.

Fans at sporting events within Denver Public Schools are encountering an extra layer of security this semester: K-9 dogs on duty. The dogs are part of a weapon-detection pilot program running from September through December to enhance safety at large events such as high school football and volleyball games.

“We are always looking for ways to improve safety,” said DPS Chief of Climate and Safety Gregory Cazzell. “You see canine partners at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Ball Arena, Coors Field, and airports. We are taking lessons from those playbooks and bringing them to DPS to make our schools safer.” The K-9 dogs, trained to sniff out firearms and explosives, are intended “to detect potential threats and to provide a sense of reassurance to staff, students, and the community,” he explained. As of publication, no weapons have been found by the K-9 teams serving at DPS events.

“This program’s success can be measured a few different ways,” Cazzell said. “One is the recovery of weapons, but there is also a preventative aspect to the dogs. Do people feel safer? That is a win.” DPS continues to operate metal detection at events, with the dogs providing additional security.

DPS Chief of Safety, Gregory Cazzell, oversees the K-9 pilot program for the district.

DPS has contracted with K2K9 Solutions for K-9 security. Brett Dollar, Colorado team lead at K2K9, said the Labrador retrievers and German shorthaired pointers at district events were selected for their friendliness. “Traditionally hunting dogs, they make very good detection dogs,” Dollar noted. “People tend to feel comfortable with floppy-eared labs.” K-9 dogs live with their handlers, and each dog and handler are certified as a team. “We start odor imprinting from about age one and socialize them from an early age,” she said. When on task, the K-9s seek odors from firearms and explosives for up to two hours before earning playtime.

K-9s Working DPS Stadiums

Danielle Starks, a member of the Denver South High School marching band, was briefly circled by a K-9 dog before an October football game at All-City Stadium. “It’s a good thing to have more security,” she said. “And the dogs are really cute.” Likewise, Janice Harvey, a grandmother attending the game,
appreciated the increased safety precautions. “It’s sad it’s a need, but they make me feel safer,” she said.

After K-9 dogs worked a George Washington football game, Dr. Dackri Davis, principal of George Washington High School, said, “The presence of the dogs is both preventative and reassuring. They remind students that their well-being is being actively protected.”

Brett Dollar works with Finny, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever, at a DPS high school football game in October.

At Northfield High School, the use of K-9 dogs at high occupancy events are “one part of creating a school environment where students can focus on learning and participating without worry,” said Principal Jessica Rodriguez Bracey. “It helps the whole community come together and focus on what’s important—learning, performing, and supporting each other.”

Feedback and Future Plans

Cazzell and his team are soliciting feedback on the pilot program. At football games, attendees are asked to complete a survey, and in October, Cazzell met with DPS student leaders to discuss K-9 security on school grounds. “The students were very positive,” he said. George Washington principal Davis agreed: “Parents and students alike appreciate the proactive steps we’re taking to ensure safety on campus, and many have commented that the presence of the K-9s not only adds a sense of security but also fosters a welcoming environment. The dogs have been received warmly as trusted partners in keeping our community safe.”

Davis is open to an expanded use  of K-9 security. She said, “The dogs have already demonstrated their ability to be both protective and community-building. Having them more regularly on campus would only deepen that positive impact.”

Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch