West Bend police introduce K9 'Valor' and city honors two life‑savers
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Summary
The West Bend Police Department introduced its new dual-purpose K9 'Valor' and handler Officer Trevor Gates, and the city presented citizen recognition awards to Pat Prescott and Tracy Hokanson for saving a man's life with an AED and CPR in March 2025.
The City of West Bend recognized public‑safety additions and citizen heroism at its Nov. 10 meeting.
Police Chief introduced Valor ("Val"), a 17‑month‑old Belgian Malinois acquired from a kennel in the Czech Republic. The chief said Val is trained for apprehension and detection (narcotics, property and people) and described the dog as a "life-saving tool" that complements officer capabilities. He introduced Officer Trevor Gates as Valor's handler and noted the dog-and-handler team completed training at Jesippee Kennels in Iron Ridge.
Separately, the Fire Department presented citizen recognition awards to Pat Prescott and Tracy Hokanson for their response at Vortex Pickleball Club on March 11, 2025. According to the presenter, Pat retrieved an AED and Tracy applied it within 30 seconds; after a single shock and chest compressions, the victim, Mike McGuire, regained consciousness and later returned to competitive play.
The council congratulated the new K9 team and the award recipients. Police and fire officials emphasized the operational and public‑safety benefits of the K9 program and the importance of community preparedness and AED availability.