Cottage Grove introduces new K9 team: Officer Sydney Wellen and K9 Kai

Cottage Grove on Thursday formally introduced a new police K9 team: Officer Sydney Wellen and her dog, Kai.

"I have the honor of introducing our newest K9 team for Cottage Grove, which is Officer Sydney Wellen and her K9 Kai," Sergeant Noseing said, noting that Kai was imported from Poland and that the handler-and-dog team completed a 16-week St. Paul Police K9 Academy. Noseing said the K9 program includes three dual-purpose patrol teams and one therapy K9 team and that the animals assist with narcotics detection, locating missing people and community outreach.

The sergeant told the council that the program is funded "primarily through grants and donations," and thanked the Cottage Grove Public Safety Board and national partners including Police Service Dogs Incorporated and the AKC Reunite Adopt a K9 Grant program for past support. He said the new team has completed required certifications and had begun night-shift patrol duties.

Officer Wellen, introduced by Noseing, attended the presentation and posed for photos with Kai after the council meeting.

The council recognized the public safety board’s role in funding and supporting the program and thanked department staff for the training and outreach work that accompanies K9 deployments. No formal action was required for the presentation.