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Jul 16, 2026

Kansas game wardens introduce new K9 teams

Posted Jul 16, 2026 10:30 AM

On their social media page Wednesday, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens introduced three newest members of their Law Enforcement Division K9 team

• K9 Maverick (Chocolate Lab) – Partnered with Lt. Lance Hockett

• K9 Krew (Black Lab) – Partnered with Game Warden Jake Brooke (Rooks & Graham Counties)

• K9 Red (Yellow Lab) – Partnered with Game Warden Layne Watkins (Chase & Morris Counties)

These new teams will begin their official K9 training in February 2027.

This spring, Lt. Hockett and Warden Brooke will be retiring their current K9 partners, Kodak and Kreed, after years of dedicated service. This will mark Warden Watkins' first K9 partnership.

The game wardesn said they would provide updates as these handlers and their new partners progress through training.