Meet Koda: Lake Lure Police Department’s First K-9 Officer
The Town of Lake Lure Police Department has a new four-legged member of the team—and he is already making quite an impression.
Koda, the department’s first K-9 officer in its history, joined the Lake Lure Police Department in 2026. A highly trained search-and-rescue and narcotics detection dog, Koda works alongside Officer Kortney Burrell (shown here), his handler and his best friend.
Koda began training with Officer Burrell in January 2026 and successfully completed his training in April. Since then, the two have become a familiar team throughout the Town of Lake Lure.
A Dream Job Comes True
For Officer Burrell, becoming a K-9 handler has been a longtime goal.
Burrell joined the Town of Lake Lure Police Department in 2020, following completion of her police officer training. One of her professional aspirations was to eventually become a K-9 handler.
When Police Chief Sean Humphries began exploring ways to enhance job satisfaction and provide additional resources for the department, he looked to other law enforcement agencies that successfully incorporated K-9s into their teams. A former colleague with K-9 experience helped point Chief Humphries in the right direction.
Chief Humphries quickly recognized that Officer Burrell would be an excellent fit for the program.
Today, Officer Burrell says she has her dream job.
Koda lives with Burrell and comes to work with her every day. Their partnership goes well beyond the hours spent on duty—they train together, work together, and have developed the strong bond that is essential between a K-9 and his handler.
A Community Makes Koda Possible
Bringing Koda to Lake Lure would not have been possible without the generosity of local supporters.
The department reached out to Rocky Guarrielo, owner of Ultimate Textiles in Rutherfordton, who has a personal connection to the devastating impact of drug addiction. As a way of giving back and expressing his appreciation for law enforcement, Guarrielo has supported the use of K-9s for narcotics detection.
He generously donated $17,000 to cover the purchase and training of Koda.
Koda is a Czech working-line dog, approximately 1–2 years old, with a combination of German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois heritage. The Czech Republic is internationally recognized for producing elite working dogs, particularly dogs bred for police, military and security work.
These breeds are known for their intelligence, athleticism, stamina and intense work ethic—qualities that make them especially well-suited for demanding law enforcement duties.
Training for the Real World
Koda completed his primary training through High Drive K-9 (HDK-9) in the Greenville, South Carolina area. HDK-9 specializes in training law enforcement K-9 teams and offers programs designed to prepare handlers and dogs for real-world deployment situations.
The Town of Lake Lure also extends its appreciation to Henderson County Officer Jeremy Riley, who supplemented Koda and Officer Burrell’s training through the Henderson County K-9 program.
The result is a highly trained team prepared to assist the Lake Lure Police Department in a variety of situations, including search-and-rescue operations and narcotics detection.
Keeping Koda Safe on the Job
Koda’s safety is also a top priority.
Following the completion of his training, Stand T.A.L.L. (Thank A Local Lawman) donated $5,000 for Koda’sspecialized transport cage and to Brady's K-9 Fund for supplying the ballistic protective vest.
Stand T.A.L.L. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Hendersonville that supports regional law enforcement by providing resources such as specialized equipment, K-9 support, mental health programs and active-shooter training.
The mission of Brady's K-9 Fund is to protect the K9s who protect our communities. They believe these working dogs deserve to be protected by a ballistic vest for their entire shift, just like their human partners, so that they both can come home safe together.
The Lake Lure Police Department is extremely grateful to Stand T.A.L.L., Brady's K-9 Fund, and everyone who has contributed to making the K-9 program possible.
A Very Popular New Officer
Officer Burrell and Koda make regular visits throughout the Town of Lake Lure, including stops at other Town departments.
And Koda has quickly become a local favorite.
In fact, he has become so popular that the Lake Lure Fire Department has already tried to recruit him! Lake Lure Fire Department Lieutenant Tommy Aley is show here with Koda, telling him the benefits of working for the Fire Department.
While Koda may enjoy visiting his friends throughout Town, his primary job is an important one: helping Officer Burrell and the Lake Lure Police Department protect and serve the community.
The Town of Lake Lure is proud to welcome Koda as the first K-9 officer in the department’s history and is equally proud of Officer Burrell for achieving a long-term professional goal.
Together, Koda and Officer Burrell represent a new chapter for the Lake Lure Police Department—and another example of what can happen when dedicated public servants and a supportive community come together.
Welcome to the team, Koda!
