WAILUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) - When Ku Makani, 1, isn’t working, he loves playing fetch, going on walks, being carried and head scratches.

But when duty calls, the Belgian Malinois is serving and protecting the people of Maui County.

He is an added less-lethal tool MPD now has for de-escalating dangerous encounters and safely apprehending suspects.

Body camera video shows him in action in Wailuku last Thursday night.

After MPD’s K9 unit called out to the suspect multiple times to surrender, but got no response, they went into the building.

It was a warehouse with lots of dark and hidden spaces – exactly what Ku Makani is trained for.

He and his handler completed an intensive seven-week training program. They learned how to resolve high-risk incidents, reducing the need for lethal force an

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