Wednesday, June 16 was the first day on the beat for the Haines City Police Department’s newest K-9.

The department was proud to welcome Ares to life on patrol. After months of training, Ares is ready to go with his handler, Officer Joel Morales.

With Ares on the job, the Haines City Police Department now has six active K9s. Officer Morales and Ares had been training at the Lakeland Police Department since January.

Officer Morales has been a member of the Haines City Police Department since November 2018. A U.S. Air Force veteran and native of the Dominican Republic, Officer Morales had previously been a part of the COPS unit.