Published on August 10, 2026
The Oak Island Police Department sends a sincere THANK YOU to all who participated in our K-9 Naming Poll this past weekend! We received hundreds of responses, suggesting names for our newest officers. Chief Morris and the selected handlers will now work to consider names which best suit their individual personalities, and present them as part of the official reintroduction of the K9 Unit in the coming weeks.
Starting this September, the two Labrador Retrievers pictured above will serve assist with Criminal Investigations, Traffic Enforcement, Public Events, and Search & Recovery operations. They will be paired with dedicated officers who have undergone a thorough selection process, and are working right now to complete a 5-week live-in training course to become their handlers.
In the meantime, the Police Department is also working hard to prepare their specialized vehicles, equipment, and offices, as noted by Police Chief Charlie Morris: “Reintroducing a K-9 Unit is a significant investment in the safety of our community, and it’s a commitment we do not take lightly. We are grateful to the Town Council and Administration for their support in developing a budget that not only makes this program possible, but also provides the resources needed to ensure our K-9 team is properly equipped and trained.”
The Department is excited to share this new chapter with the community, and in the coming weeks will begin publishing a special video series, documenting the process to select, train, and deploy these amazingly talented assets. To view and share this series and all future updates on the Unit's progress, simply visit the dedicated page at OakIslandNC.gov/K9 or click the link below.
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