The Lake Forest Police Department is bringing back its K9 unit, pairing Officer Ashley Molinelli with a German Shepherd named Buzz. The duo is expected to be street-ready by mid-November after completing eight weeks of intensive training.
The program had been dormant since K9 Chase retired in 2024. Molinelli, who joined the department in 2019, applied for the role by submitting a resume and letter of interest, then completed formal interviews with LFPD administration, Lake Forest Love first reported Sunday, Sept. 27.
"I absolutely love dogs … [and] I love proactive police work," Molinelli said. "I think it's the best way to combine the two."
What the K9 team will do
Once certified, Molinelli and Buzz will handle narcotics detection, tracking, searches and apprehension. In practice, that means Molinelli can walk Buzz around vehicles during other officers' traffic stops to check for drugs. She will also respond to calls across the city that require a K9.
The training covers obedience, narcotics work and tracking. Molinelli and Buzz must also log a minimum of 16 training hours each month once active.
Molinelli said fully learning to read Buzz's behavioral cues will take about two years. She described the process as studying every small signal the dog gives so she can interpret his alerts with confidence.
From patrol to K9 duty
Molinelli has spent her LFPD career on patrol, handling traffic stops and responding to calls including car accidents and domestic incidents. The K9 assignment adds a new layer to that work and a new daily schedule built around training requirements.
Officers and dogs are paired based on the agency's operational needs and personality fit. Buzz will go home with Molinelli after every shift.
The department welcomed Buzz on Facebook on Sept. 28, calling the German Shepherd the newest member of the LFPD team. The post drew more than 100 reactions from residents.
No public ceremony or specific first-day-on-duty date has been announced. Molinelli said she expects the team to be ready by mid-November.
