In Critical Moments, Crestview Calls in the K-9

Crestview police will continue to have access to state canine tracking teams after the City Council approved an extension of its agreement with the Florida Department of Corrections on April 27.

The agreement allows the Crestview Police Department to request K-9 units to help track escaped offenders or locate missing and endangered individuals.

It runs from August 29, 2026, through August 28, 2031, with an option to renew for an additional five years if both parties agree.

Under the agreement, canine tracking teams are deployed from Santa Rosa, Walton, and Okaloosa correctional institutions. Each unit includes a canine sergeant and two correctional officers and must be approved by a warden before activation. If a nearby unit is unavailable, the state coordinates a response from another facility.

Crestview police are responsible for requesting assistance, providing key risk information, and assigning a certified officer to accompany the tracking team during operations.

The Florida Department of Corrections assists when available, but is not liable if a unit cannot respond. Each agency covers its own costs, and no financial exchange is involved.

Beyond escaped inmates, the agreement also extends to missing and endangered person situations where time is often critical. Officials say K-9 tracking units can play an important role in locating vulnerable individuals, including children, seniors, or those with medical or cognitive conditions who may be at risk. In those moments, the focus shifts from enforcement to urgency, where every minute can make a difference in bringing someone home safely.

City officials say the partnership strengthens public safety and improves coordination during critical incidents across the region.