Governor Walker Announces Names of Drug Detection K9s

Names selected via Facebook poll from suggestions made by Alaska 6^th-graders

May 16, 2017 JUNEAU – As a part of the Safer Alaska initiative, Governor Bill Walker today announced the results of his Facebook poll to pick names for the two new Alaska State Trooper drug detection K9s. K9-A will be named M.O.C.H.A. (acronym for Meth, Opioids, Cocaine, Heroin, Alaska); the name was suggested by Ryan Engebretsen’s class at Teeland Middle School in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. K9-B will be named Mak (short for Kachemak, as in Kachemak Bay); that name was suggested by Hannah Dolphin’s class at Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School in Kenai.

“M.O.C.H.A and Mak will play important, integral roles in our efforts to create a Safer Alaska,” Governor Walker said. “I’m so grateful for the participation of Alaska 6^th graders and citizens across the state in selecting these names. I look forward to seeing the important work these new dogs will do.”

The State Troopers will use the K9s to help detect opioids and other drugs in a variety of places across the state in continued efforts to tamp down on drug use and trafficking. Alaska 6^th graders initially submitted over 70 potential names for the new dogs after learning about the impacts of drug abuse, and how to respond in difficult situations.