The Middlesboro Police Department has welcomed its newest K-9 officer Tyr’, a two-year-old, sable-coated German Shepherd from Poland. Named for Norse mythology’s god of war, Tyr’ [pronounced TEER] will work alongside his handler, Officer Morgan Justice, as a dual-purpose K-9 for narcotic detection and suspect apprehension. Officer Tyr’ received his certification on February 10.

“Dan Cliff with Integrity Canine, an independent organization out of Morristown, carefully vets and selects these dogs, ensuring that they have the appropriate temperament for specialized training before bringing them stateside,” said Officer Justice. “Tyr’ has trained with Cliff since the end of July 2024.”

According to Justice, most K-9 officers in the US are imported from Poland or Germany, and they are chosen from among three primary breeds: German Shepherd, Dutch Shepherd, or Belgian Malinois.

“These breeds have the high energy necessary to do police work,” said Justice. “They are also very intelligent and develop a strong bond and high level of trust with their handler.”

“Officer Justice has served with the MPD for over five years, and we are excited to have Tyr’ join our department,” said Chief Petie Gilbert. “A working K-9 unit is a vital part of our department’s effectiveness.”

Tyr’ replaces the beloved K-9 Officer Atlas who retired last spring after serving MPD since 2019 alongside his handler, Lieutenant Harvey Johnson.