Being a police officer has been a lifelong dream for Kyle Myers. Today, he serves his community as a K-9 patrol officer with the Jackson Township Police Department.
Myers, 26, became a police officer after serving in the U.S. Air Force and earned an associate degree in criminal science while in the military.
He was not old enough to join a police force right out of high school, so he came up with a different approach to starting his career and first served as a security officer in the military before returning home to enter the police academy.
“Since I wasn’t old enough to become a police officer right out of high school, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as a security forces officer,” he said. “I was assigned to the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron, where I was responsible for guarding nuclear weapons.
“After completing my military service, I enrolled in the police academy and was hired by the Jackson Township Police Department in 2022.”
Why did you want to be part of a K-9 team?
Becoming a police officer has been a lifelong dream of mine, but my ultimate goal has always been to become a K-9 handler. A K-9 is an incredibly valuable asset when utilized correctly — whether it’s locating a missing person, tracking or apprehending a suspect, or detecting narcotics.
Once I started on patrol duty, I quickly discovered I enjoyed getting narcotics off the streets. Not having a K-9 on the department made it hard at times, but once the opportunity opened, I knew I would be able to utilize the K-9 to better the community.
What is the name, breed, age and size of your canine partner?
K-9 Maverick. My partner is a three-year-old German shepherd weighing approximately 80 pounds.
Would you detail what the training was like with Maverick?
The training Maverick and I completed together included apprehension, narcotics detection, tracking and article searches.
It was a rigorous process — often frustrating but incredibly rewarding. Beyond the technical skills, we had to build a deep bond and establish mutual trust, which was just as important as the formal training.
With all of the different training you have had over the years, what is one of the skills you have trained for that you are most proud of?
Of all the training I’ve received in both the military and law enforcement, K-9 training has undoubtedly been my favorite. It’s demanding, but nothing compares to the satisfaction of working in sync with K-9 Maverick.
Though our basic training is complete, there is rarely a day when we are not trying to better ourselves. Whether it is an actual deployment on the street or a training deployment. We also train biweekly with the PK9A association.
What is your favorite sport?
I have strong roots in Stark County athletics. I grew up competing in wrestling and football here, and now I enjoy coaching high school wrestling. Wrestling has always been my favorite sport.
While I once proudly competed as a Northwest Indian, my favorite team today is the team I get to help coach, the Jackson Polar Bears wrestling team.
Editor’s note: Five questions with … is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you’d like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: ‘Lifelong dream.’ Meet Kyle Myers, a K-9 officer with Jackson Township police
Reporting by Patricia Faulhaber, Canton Repository / The Repository
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