UMB Police and Public Safety is the third university police department in the nation with a comfort K-9 program.

What is a comfort K9?

A comfort K9, sometimes called a therapy dog, is trained to provide stress relief and affection to people dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or mental illness. Comfort K9s can work in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, disaster areas, and more. 

As a police comfort K9, Poe, and his handler, PFC Anthony Summers, visit UMB community members and neighbors. Poe visits students experiencing exam stress, faculty and staff who need a break, and those who are coping with tragedy or trauma.

As a member of the Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST), Poe also helps to build positive relationships with communities who may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with police officers.

• UMBPD Welcomes New Comfort K9 (April 2022)
• UMB Police Department Welcomes Second Comfort K9 (p. 18, March 2020)
• Lexi Is Here! UMB Police Department Welcomes Comfort Dog (June 2019)
• Comfort K-9 Dog Lexi’s Journey to Baltimore (June 2019)
• New Paw-lice Officer to Join UMBPD in June (May 2019)

Want our Comfort K-9 to come to your event? Please fill out the form below to schedule!