K9 Gabby: The Quiet Strength at the Heart of the Blaine Police Department

BLAINE, Minn.
In a profession often defined by urgency, enforcement, and high risk decisions, the Blaine Police Department has invested in something equally vital but far less visible: emotional steadiness, trust, and human connection. At the center of that effort is K9 Gabby, a certified therapy dog whose work unfolds not through commands or apprehension, but through calm presence.

Based on official updates from the Blaine Police Department and the Minnesota based nonprofit Soldiers 6, K9 Gabby represents a growing shift in public safety toward trauma informed care for both officers and the communities they serve.

A Different Kind of K9 Mission

Unlike traditional law enforcement K9s trained for tracking, detection, or apprehension, K9 Gabby serves in a specialized therapeutic role. Her primary mission is emotional support and what many in the field describe as psychological first aid.

Gabby works alongside her handler, Officer Brandon Erstad, as a certified therapy team. Together, they are deployed to schools, community gatherings, internal department wellness efforts, and high stress situations where fear, shock, or grief may be present. In these moments, Gabby’s role is not symbolic. It is functional.

Therapy K9s are often used to help children and adults feel safe enough to speak with officers after traumatic events, including victims of crime who may otherwise struggle to communicate. Her presence can lower visible anxiety, slow breathing, and create a sense of grounding that words alone often cannot.

The Origins of Team Gabby

K9 Gabby was provided to the Blaine Police Department through Soldiers 6, a Minnesota nonprofit whose mission centers on supporting honorably discharged veterans, police officers, firefighters, and first responders with specially trained service and therapy dogs.

The name Soldiers 6 is drawn from the military phrase “Got your six,” meaning “I’ve got your back.” The organization refers to its dogs as “Battle Buddies,” emphasizing companionship, loyalty, and steady support rather than enforcement.

Within the Soldiers 6 program, dogs are often named to honor specific individuals or legacies. This tradition is designed to keep the memory of fallen or dedicated service members alive, linking each dog’s work to a broader story of service, sacrifice, and continuity.

Annual Recertification in the Real World

Therapy teams like Gabby and Officer Erstad are required to complete rigorous annual recertification to ensure they continue to meet professional standards for public service.

According to a recent update shared by Soldiers 6, Team Gabby completed their latest recertification under the supervision of Trainer Mike, a lead instructor with the organization. The evaluation was intentionally conducted in high distraction, real world environments rather than controlled training rooms.

Testing took place at The Home Depot and Caribou Coffee in Blaine, locations chosen for their noise levels, foot traffic, automatic doors, carts, unfamiliar smells, and constant movement. These settings mirror the conditions therapy teams encounter during public events and crisis response.

During recertification, teams are evaluated on multiple competencies, including obedience and immediate response to commands in public spaces, temperament and comfort when approached by strangers or children, and environmental stability such as navigating narrow aisles and crowded commercial areas without distress.

Successful completion confirms that the team remains prepared, reliable, and safe for continued deployment across the community.

Supporting Officer Wellness from the Inside Out

Within the Blaine Police Department, K9 Gabby plays a quiet but meaningful role in officer wellness. Policing routinely exposes officers to traumatic incidents that accumulate over time. While training prepares officers for tactical response, it does not always address the emotional residue left behind.

Therapy K9s have increasingly been recognized as a practical wellness tool. Gabby provides officers with moments of decompression after difficult calls, critical incidents, or emotionally demanding shifts. These interactions are informal, voluntary, and grounded in presence rather than performance.

Departments across Minnesota and the country have adopted similar models as part of broader efforts to reduce burnout, improve morale, and normalize mental health support within law enforcement culture.

Building Trust Beyond the Badge

For residents, K9 Gabby has become a familiar and welcome figure at community events. Her presence softens interactions, especially for children and individuals who may feel apprehensive around law enforcement.

By meeting residents in moments of calm rather than crisis, therapy teams help humanize officers and build relationships that extend beyond enforcement. These encounters often leave lasting impressions, particularly for young people whose earliest experiences with police can shape long term perceptions of safety and authority.

A Measured Investment in Community Care

K9 Gabby’s annual recertification marks more than a procedural milestone. It signals the continuation of a deliberate approach to public safety that acknowledges emotional wellbeing as essential infrastructure.

In a time when communities are asking more of their institutions, Team Gabby stands as a reminder that care, consistency, and calm are not peripheral to policing. They are foundational.

Quietly, patiently, and year after year, K9 Gabby remains ready.

MinneapoliMedia