LouisvilleKY., – The Louisville Metro Police Department will soon be getting a new officer. Kentucky Derby Festival, Logan Lavelle Hunt and the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation are partnering with the Louisville Metro Police Foundation, to bring LMPD their newest four-legged recruit. K-9 Thunder will visit the Command Center of his namesake on Friday, April 12. Already in training, K-9 Thunder will soon be hitting the streets and sniffing out crime.
The LMPD Canine Unit responds to situations calling for trained police dogs which include building and area searches, evidence/property recovery, tracking and apprehending of suspects and searches for narcotics and hazardous devices The Unit currently has 15 handlers and their K-9 partners. Metro Narcotics and the 9th Mobile have an additional 4 handlers and their partners.
Thunder Over Louisville – the Derby Festival’s Opening Ceremonies – is one of the more than seventy events produced by the Derby Festival in the spring. The 2019 Thunder Over Louisville on Saturday, April 13 will be the 30th annual production.
The Derby Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people in a two-week period and has a local economic impact of more than $127 million.