Bozeman Police Department’s newest officer is Copper, a two-year-old Labrador.
Copper and her handler, SRO Connor Foley, completed an intensive training program and officially hit the streets as a team on Jan. 6, 2025, when Bozeman Public Schools classes resumed after winter break.
The new K-9 team member was added due to a successful fundraiser hosted by the Bozeman Police Foundation, which accepted donations totaling $10,000 to help launch the agency’s School Resource Officer (SRO) K-9 Program.
“Copper is more than just a cute, friendly face — she’s undergone extensive training in detecting explosives, firearms and ammunition,” reads a Monday statement from the agency. “Beyond her detection work, Copper plays a vital role in connecting with students, providing support during difficult conversations and serving as a calming presence throughout the school.To our knowledge, she’s Montana’s only full-time SRO K-9 and the only police explosives detection K-9 in our area.”