Oak Island K9 Unit Update: Names Decided + Officers Begin Training
Published on September 01, 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