CSUN Canine Officers Met Students at Campus Event
Los Angeles students learned how police dogs serve the campus community through demonstrations and meet-and-greet sessions.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Dogs
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The California State University, Northridge (CSUN) police department hosted a Meet Your Canine Officers event. Students interacted with three working dogs tasked with security and support on campus.
Why it matters
These canine units help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the student body while offering comfort to those living away from home. The program fosters community trust by demonstrating the specialized roles these animals perform in campus safety.
The department features Tank, a 7-year veteran; Bertie, a 2-year-old explosives-detection dog; and Sunny, a 1-year-old therapy dog with three months of service. These figures represent the current active canine roster at the CSUN campus.
The players
CSUN Police Department
The campus law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining safety and security at California State University, Northridge.
Tank
A veteran police canine who has served with the department for 7 years.
Bertie
A German short-haired pointer trained by the department to detect firearms and explosives.
Sunny
A 1-year-old Labrador retriever serving as a therapy dog for students on campus.
The details
Handlers demonstrated how the dogs utilize their keen sense of smell to locate firearm and explosive-related odors. During the event, Bertie the German short-haired pointer successfully identified a training aid concealed inside a cone to show how the unit secures the campus environment.
Timeline
The Meet Your Canine Officers event occurred on October 1, 2026.
Bertie will turn 2 years old in November 2026.
Tank will turn 8 years old in December 2026.
The Home Front
The use of therapy dogs on university campuses has become a recognized strategy for supporting student mental health and well-being. This development follows a pattern set by the Association for Animal-Assisted Intervention standards for integrating therapy animals into educational settings.
If you are a student or family member living on campus, consider reaching out to university health services to learn about available support programs involving therapy animals. These resources can provide significant comfort while navigating the transition to independent living.
The takeaway
Working canines provide both critical security services and emotional support to the campus community. Students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with campus wellness programs that utilize these animals as a way to improve their overall living experience.
Further reading
Find more resources on integrating pets into your routine at Dogs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Sundial.
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Do you believe community-focused events like canine demonstrations improve trust in your local police?
