Officer Jeremy Walleman has wanted to be a K9 handler since childhood, inspired by his father who worked with a police dog when Jeremy was growing up. But achieving that goal took years of hard work and dedication.

A Ferris State graduate with a degree in Criminal Justice, Officer Walleman began his career in Eastpointe in 2004 before joining the Sterling Heights Police Department. Since then, he has served on road patrol, worked as a fatal accident investigator in the Traffic Division, and become a key member of the Special Response Team (SRT) since 2012. He also served as a PT instructor at the police academy, where both Officer Reynolds and Sgt. Coates trained with him.

After 13 years with SHPD, Officer Walleman received his first K9 partner, Ernie. Today, he works alongside K9 Chip, forming a highly skilled team serving the Sterling Heights community.

In this episode of Talk’n the Beat, Officer Reynolds and Sgt. Coates talk with Officer Walleman about what makes an exceptional police K9, the bond between handler and dog, and what it truly takes to be part of this unique unit.

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