Chase was brought in as a partnership between the Hutto Police Department and the Central Texas Public Safety Commission.
HUTTO, Texas — A new addition to the Hutto Police Department is drawing attention for both his adorable demeanor and his future role in crisis response.
Chase, a young dog assigned to the department’s crisis intervention team, is currently in training to become its first K-9 dedicated to assisting in mental health-related calls.
Ashley Wilson, a crisis intervention specialist with the department, said Chase’s preparation will be extensive.
“The training that Chase will get will be pretty extensive,” Wilson said. “So he’ll go through all of his puppy obedience – that’s what we’re working on currently, and then he will go through the AKC Good Citizen series.”
Chase is being trained to provide comfort and help de-escalate tense or emotional encounters.
“He’s going in when things are a whole lot more chaotic and stressful, and we just want to make sure that he is the calming presence that a lot of people need,” Wilson said.
Part of his training includes exposure to high-stress environments, such as emergency scenes with blaring sirens, to ensure he remains calm under pressure. Trainers use positive reinforcement, including treats, to help him associate those situations with safe, nonthreatening experiences.
The program was made possible with support from the Central Texas Public Safety Commission, which works to expand mental health resources for first responders across the region.
“When we heard about Chase and this crisis canine, we knew it was a perfect opportunity to not only support our first responders through mental health, but also expand our partnerships throughout Central Texas,” said Grace Einterz with the commission.
The department hopes Chase will be ready to join officers in the field by 2027. In the meantime, officials say they look forward to introducing him to the community he will soon serve.