Oak Island K9 Unit Update: Graduation Day

Published on October 01, 2026

LATEST UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 30: 2026: Over the past few months, the Oak Island Police Department has invited the community to join us in our journey to reintroduce the K9 Unit to our services offered. Today was a monumental step forward as we celebrated the GRADUATION of our two new K9 Officers, Sandy and Dune, along with their human partners, Master Police Officers Beau Boose and Gary Green, held earlier today at the 801 Ocean Event Center.

These officers have just successfully completed their 5-week long, live-in training course at K2 K9 Solutions which included over 200 hours of intense, task-focused training in multiple areas of law enforcement and support.

We would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to our local Town leadership who supported the reintroduction of this program, along with representatives from partner agencies who attended today’s ceremony.

Importantly, THANKS to you our community as well, for the tremendous outpouring of support you have given every step of the way! From the thousands of suggestions we received for their names, to the views and sharing of our updates, you have been with us every step of the way. Now, it’s time for these new officers to get out there and serve THEIR community!

To view the photos from the Graduation, click the link below.

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PREVIOUS UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 17, 2026: Now mid-way through their training, Officers Beau Boose & Gary Green took a “field day” earlier this week to come back to Oak Island! This was first time K9 Officers Sandy & Dune were able to train in some of the areas they will be working once they graduate.

As seen in the video below, the exercises went well, and they were able to further hone their amazing skills to search, locate, & identify their target items. The day even allowed for some training on the beach and in the surf, offering a new environment of sights, sounds, and scents!

These officers are working to build a bond that comes through training, so they can trust each other while keeping you safe! To help SHARE this update and the entire progress of the Oak Island Police Department's new K9 Unit, simply use the direct ink of OakIslandNC.gov/K9.

PREVIOUS UPDATE

SEPTEMBER 1, 2026: Over the last several weeks, the Oak Island Police Department has been sharing updates as they work to reintroduce a K9 Unit to the services provided. This week brings TWO new updates to share!

First, the names for the two new K9 Officers have officially been selected! As noted in the attached graphic, the Department is pleased to introduce K9 Sandy (female, Chocolate Labrador) and K9 Dune (male, Black Labrador). These names are a great fit and will give each K9 a unique identity that reflects the community, but is personal to them and their handlers.

Regarding their handlers, on Monday, August 31, 2026, Officers Beau Boose and Gary Green, who were specifically selected for this program, officially started their 5-week long live-in training course for this unit! This is an exciting step for these officers, and an important step forward for the Department. In a personal letter to them both, Police Chief Charlie Morris expressed his appreciation for their "willingness to take on this responsibility and the commitment that comes with being a K9 handler," adding that he looks forward having all four of them back soon to get the K9 program up and running.

The Department is excited to share this new chapter with the community, and is continuing to document the process to select, train, and deploy these amazingly talented assets. To view and share these updates, simply use the dedicated page URL of OakIslandNC.gov/K9 or click the link below.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

PREVIOUS UPDATE

AUGUST 10, 2021: 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.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

ORIGINAL NOTICE

AUGUST 07, 2026: Starting in September 2026, the Oak Island Police Department will reintroduce the K9 Unit as part of our service to the community, and we’re offering a public opportunity to help with naming our newest officers!

Formerly known as "Elvis" & "Fia" (NOTE: names have NOT been imprinted) these two Labrador Retrievers will serve as part of a dedicated K9 Unit, assisting 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, working right now to complete 5-week live-in training course to become their handlers.

While these “future officers” and their handlers are currently working to complete their training, 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.”

In the meantime, an opportunity is being made available to help provide these officers with new names, which they will be imprinted with prior to the completion of their training. Through Friday, August 14, 2026, name suggestions can be made by commenting on the dedicated Facebook post, as well as through the Contact Form at OakIslandNC.gov/CONTACT or by clicking the link below.

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