After more than 400 hours of state-mandated training, Sequim Police Department’s lone K-9 team of Detective Paul Dailidenas and Mamba the dog are now patrolling city streets.

The pair began training in January along with K-9 teams from Port Angeles Police Department, Olympia Police Department, and Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office.

Mamba, Sequim’s fourth ever police dog and the city’s first female canine crime fighter, is trained to conduct human tracking and apprehension, building searches, evidence searches, and handler protection, city staff report.

She and Dailidenas also passed Washington State Police Canine Association’s accreditation, too.

Mamba, now a 2 year old German Shepherd, was purchased and trained through a grant by the Mary P. Dolciani Halloran Foundation.

She continues the city’s K-9 program, which began in 2000 with Sgt. Dave Campbell and Huey, who was donated by Clallam County Sheriff’s Office to the city.

Sgt. Mike Hill took on the K-9 officer role from Campbell in 2005 to work with the city’s next dog Titus for three years and later Chase from 2008-September 2016 upon the dog’s retirement from service.

Mamba originally began training with Officer Tony Bush.

Sequim’s K-9 program is largely funded through donations and can be made in-person or by mail to the “Sequim Police Department, 152 W. Cedar St., Sequim WA, 98382,” care of “Sequim Police K-9 Program.”

All proceeds support care of Mamba and training the team, city staff said.

For more information, call 360-683-7227.