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Meet Officer Lori Cronin, the first woman to be an explosive detection K-9 handler in the region

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Posted at 2:50 PM, Oct 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-08 15:00:18-04

CINCINNATI — A University of Cincinnati police officer and her K-9 are a rare duo.

Officer Lori Cronin, a 14-year veteran with UCPD, is the first woman in the region to hold the position of explosive detection K-9 handler. Her partner, Harley, is one of only a few female K-9s that detect explosives in the area.

Cronin and Harley recently completed more than 120 hours of training and received their certificate from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. The police department held a ceremony for the pair on Tuesday.

Choosing Harley for the police department was a “no brainer,” Cronin said. The 2-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer is so excited to work that Cronin has to put her in her kennel for a little bit at home so she settles down.

“She’s super sweet,” Cronin said. “She’s very high energy, and I’m older, so we’re adapting and learning how to try to meet in the middle. But she’s a lot of fun, and she keeps me going. She has to be touching me at all times, which is kind of cool.”

Cronin said she had to complete a physical test and panel interviews before she was selected for the position.

“It’s exciting … my father was a K-9 (officer) when I was younger, and I’ve always loved dogs,” Cronin said.

University of Cincinnati Police Department Chief Maris Harold said Cronin and Harley will help the police department respond to events on campus and throughout the Greater Cincinnati area. Since May, Cronin and Harley have gone on a couple calls to local high schools.

The pair join Officer Lance Long and K-9 Dozer in the explosive detection unit.