Pasadena’s Newest Police Dog Trains To Find Missing People, as Veteran K-9 Edo Retires

For more than seven years, K-9 Edo went where the drugs were — into buildings, vehicles, and crime scenes across Pasadena, partnering with Officer Daniel Velasquez in 338 deployments.

On May 4, the Belgian Malinois worked his last shift.

His replacement is not another narcotics dog.

Seeka, a one-and-a-half-year-old female black Labrador Retriever, is training to become a California-certified tracking and trailing dog, a K-9 whose job will be finding critical missing adults and children and tracking suspects who flee crime scenes, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

Edo’s career, which began after a military assignment with Army Special Forces, according to the department, included 47 community service events, 15 suspect give-ups, four apprehensions, and more than $300,000 in seized currency, the department said in a press release announcing his retirement.

Recognizing his potential as a police service dog, the department selected Edo, beginning what it called a remarkable partnership that would leave a lasting impact on the department and the community.

“Edo’s contributions to the Pasadena Police Department extend far beyond statistics,” Chief Gene Harris said. “He served with courage, professionalism, and unwavering dedication. We are grateful for his years of service alongside Officer Velasquez, and wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement.”

Velasquez, who lateraled to Pasadena from the Monrovia Police Department in 2016 and worked patrol for three years before joining the K-9 unit, was paired with Edo in March 2019.

The two completed a six-week patrol school and a six-week narcotic detection school before beginning operations, according to the department’s website.

The shift from a patrol and narcotics Malinois to a tracking Labrador reflects an expansion of the Pasadena K-9 unit’s capabilities.

While the department’s other K-9 teams — which include Officer Jeff Newlen with K-9 Knoert, and Sergeant Richard Padilla with K-9 Pepa — specialize in patrol, narcotics detection, and explosives work, Seeka’s training will focus specifically on tracking and trailing.

Her name, the department said, is derived from various languages meaning “to search,” “discover,” or “seek” — a fitting name for a dog whose future role will focus on locating those in need. Upon certification, she will assist in locating critical missing adults and children, as well as suspects who have fled crime scenes. Her specialized skills will enhance the department’s ability to respond to urgent incidents and bring vulnerable individuals safely home, the department said.

“The Pasadena Police Department looks forward to Seeka’s continued training and certification,” Harris said. “Her work will play a vital role in helping us locate missing persons, support investigations, and provide another valuable resource for our officers and the community we serve.”

The department said it will conduct agency-wide training in July focused on human odor detection and best practices for supporting tracking and trailing deployments. Updated policies related to those operations are also forthcoming.

The Pasadena Police Department’s K-9 program, housed within the Field Operations Division, currently includes dogs certified in patrol, narcotics, and explosives detection. Seeka’s tracking specialization, the department said, would add to the unit’s operational range.