Twenty-six K9s lost their lives in the line of duty in 2023. But their memories live on in tributes to police K9s at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington DC.

One of the most recent exhibits honoring police K9s is found in the museum’s DuPont Gallery. The temporary exhibit, titled Officers as Artists: The Creative Expression of Those Who Serve, showcases the artwork of 50 active and retired law enforcement officers across a variety of mediums.

In this exhibit, which debuted in September and will run until August 30, 2025, there is a captivating painting by Commander Chad Bingham from the Jefferson County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office depicting his initial K9 companion, Paul.

The inaugural art exhibit highlights the officers' personal connection to art. It illustrates how art has aided them professionally and in coping with work-related trauma.

“The exhibit showcases their artwork and their stories about how they use art and creative expression to channel the stresses that come with the calling,” reports Lauren Sydney, director of Exhibits and Collections at the museum.

Sydney notes the idea for the exhibit came from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) Officer Safety and Wellness Branch. “Officers do art for many reasons, some as an expression outside their jobs and others to decompress from the difficult things that happen on the job,” she says.

The exhibit also “humanizes officers,” she says. “Though some of the pieces are very law enforcement-specific, many are just of things that these officers find beautiful and wanted to put out into the world.”

“The creative expressions featured in this exhibit offer a unique and intimate glimpse into the lives of law enforcement officers,” said William Alexander, CEO of the NLEOMF in a press release. “We hope that through this exhibit, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of those who serve, and the therapeutic role art can play in their lives.”

K9 Exhibit

Within the museum, there is also a K9 exhibit included in a broader exhibit called "Being an Officer," which displays the diverse roles officers may have, ranging from patrol to bomb squad to SWAT and K9 teams.

Sydney reveals the exhibit showcases a section emphasizing the bonds between human officers and their K9 partners.

“As you can imagine, we had to narrow down the exhibit,” Sydney says. “There are so many specializations in law enforcement. But we really wanted to highlight the special relationship that exists between K9 officers and their handlers. It is pretty unique because most officers do not work directly with animals. It’s fascinating for visitors to learn about how teamwork plays a significant role and what K9 officers are capable of that humans cannot do.”

At this exhibit, visitors will discover the history, roles, skills, and training of police K9s. The exhibit also honors two law enforcement K9s, King and Dux.

“We chose King because he created a lot of interest in police dogs and spread their popularity,” Sydney says.

She explains King was the first police dog to be used effectively in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area in the 1960s. His achievements at the Anoka (Minnesota) Police Department helped establish police dog units in a five-state area.

King received many awards for his criminal apprehensions, and a local newspaper reporter referred to him as the Rin Tin Tin of the Anoka PD. Following his death, the City of Anoka commemorated King by naming a park after him (King Memorial Park) and erecting a life-size statue in his honor. The NLEOMF inducted him as an honoree in 2018.

A life-size statue at the museum honors Dux and his K9 handler, Deputy Kory Kelley from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia.

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A life-size statue at the museum honors Dux and his K9 handler, Deputy Kory Kelley from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia. The artist used a life cast to mold the deputy's pose. “The dog was carved, since he wouldn’t sit still long enough for a life-size cast,” she says.

Like King, Dux also had a notable impact on law enforcement, Sydney adds.

Dux underwent emergency surgery on October 2, 2016, following a shooting incident during a traffic stop. By Thanksgiving that year, he had recovered fully and was back at work. He served the department for another five years before the K9 team retired in 2021.

Also included in the exhibit is a video that illustrates K9 training, using the Boston Police Department as a model. “The video shares how puppies are selected and trained, the kinds of skills officers are looking for, and the different things police dogs might be used for,” she says.

More to See

“There’s so much more to see in the museum,” Sydney adds. “The museum gives visitors a chance to see law enforcement and their jobs through officers’ eyes.”

Other exhibits highlight the history of law enforcement, walking visitors through time from the beginning of law enforcement in the colonial days to modern law enforcement. Visitors can engage with interactive exhibits like the forensics exhibit to discover the science of modern forensics.

“We also have exhibits that highlight cutting-edge technology and the way that law enforcement uses different tools in their work. Our ‘Tools of the Trade’ exhibit covers the history of various technologies, such as radar technologies, and how those tools work today.”

Two simulators are also available for visitors to experience. The driving simulator lets visitors practice some of the moves and techniques officers might use while driving, such as when they are pursuing a vehicle or during a traffic stop. This exhibit requires a valid driver’s license to participate.

The decision simulator is another attraction where visitors must be 13 years or older to participate. This use-of-force simulator is a real-life simulator used to train officers around the country, Sydney explains.

“The (VirTra V100 system) simulator helps officers determine how they should respond in a dangerous situation,” she says. “Visitors get a hands on experience into what goes on in making decisions in potentially dangerous situations. They really learn a lot about the short time officers have to decide on the use of force in dangerous situations. They learn that officers need to assess what the danger is to themselves and the public before making the decisions they make.”

The museum is open weekly, from Thursday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can learn more and purchase tickets at https://nleomf.org/museum/visiting-information/