Jason Laird

Jason Laird has been in corrections for almost 20 years, currently serving as a Correctional Captain.  He began his K9 career early as a trained agitator (decoy) for the K9 program at the facility he was employed with.  He enjoyed training and working with the K9s and was selected as a K9 Handler in 2013. 

Jason was partnered with K9 Hawk, a large, stubborn and excitable, German Shepherd straight from Germany.  Hawk was trained as a dual-purpose narcotic/protection K9, and worked with Laird for about three years. During this time, Jason became a certified K9 Instructor and assisted with annual team certifications.  In order to be promoted to Lieutenant, and manage the 12-dog K9 team, Jason had to give K9 Hawk to another handler.  He oversaw the K9 Team until he left the facility in 2022 to pursue other career options.  During this time, Jason also handled a private security gun detection dog, K9 Rokko, before returning to his calling at another jail facility as a Correctional Captain.

Jason grew up learning about and training dogs.  At a young age, he found himself learning behavior management and different techniques to make a dog successful.  Over the years, he has had numerous personal dogs and also trained obedience and behavior in the private sector.  Currently, he is training is newest personal dog (rescue), Pepper.  Jason enjoys spending time with his family and bow hunting.

K9 Hawk, who retired from service in 2019, became part of the K9 Bane Hero Foundation Family in August 2024, only a short time before he lost his own battle with Degenerative Myelopathy.