Maryland State Police K-9 unit graduates new K-9 teams, names three after fallen troopers

K-9 Plank (left), and K-9 Kato (right) are two of the five newly certified MSP K-9s (Images: Maryland State Police)

PIKESVILLE, Md. – The Maryland State Police (MSP) Special Operations Division K-9 Unit graduated five new dual purpose K-9 teams on Friday.

Three of the five newly certified K-9s have been named in honor of fallen MSP troopers. These dual purpose K-9 teams have been trained in drug detection and patrol/utility work, and are ready to keep Maryland safe.

K-9 Plank was named in honor of Trooper First Class Edward Plank, who was killed on October 17th, 1995, when he was shot by a suspect following a traffic stop on U.S. Route 13 in Princess Anne. K-9 Plank and Cpl. Dana Orndorff will be assigned to the MSP Berlin Barrack.

One of the other graduates, K-9 Kato, and PFC Stephen Tindall, will be assigned to the Easton Police Department.

The two other K-9s named after fallen troopers include K-9 Hunter, who was named after Trooper First Class Shaft Hunter, and K-9 Wade, who was named in honor of Trooper Gary Wade.

Hunter was killed on May 21st, 2011, when his patrol car collided with the back of a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of I-95 in Howard County. K-9 Hunter and TFC Shawn Brown will be assigned to the MSP Westminster Barrack.

Wade was taking enforcement action for a traffic violation when he was struck and killed by a motorist who ran off the road on January 30th, 1982, on the JFK Memorial Highway just outside of Havre de Grace. K-9 Wade and TFC Kyle Morrison will be assigned to the MSP North East Barrack.

K-9 Drake, the fifth graduate, and Master Trooper James Layton, will be assigned to the MSP Cumberland Barrack.