Hektor, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd dog, joined handler and Public Safety and Communications Supervisor Dan Mulder in 2023. Hektor does daily rounds throughout the hospital and clinics performing searches, de-escalating patients, and even tracking elopements, such as dementia patients who wander off.

“Hektor has all of the same certifications and training that law enforcement K9s do,” said Mulder. “He just works in a hospital.”

Hektor is also dual certified in narcotics and trained in tracking. In fact, according to Mulder, he has 29 narcotic finds, most of which are marijuana, methamphetamine, and even heroin, as well as three successful trackings, and four visitor vehicle drug indications.

“Hektor once alerted to a man who was wearing a prescribed fentanyl patch,” said Mulder. “To a dog, fentanyl smells like heroin. I explained his training to the man and it was a good, respectful conversation.”

According to Mulder, Hektor has also helped to track a dementia patient who had been separated from family members.

Hektor is also utilized to de-escalate patients or visitors who have become problematic or may be out of control. According to Mulder, in 2023, Hektor was requested 47 times, 35 times in 2024, and already in 2025, he has been requested for de-escalation 13 times.

“When we’re out just doing our rounds on patrol, we get a lot of comments about how cute he is,” said Mulder. “But when I have to put him at the front of a room because of an issue, he has an 88 percent de-escalation rate just from being in the room. The behavior stops. As soon as Hektor shows up, it’s game over.”

Hektor’s role as a trained law enforcement K9 is not the same as the multiple therapy dogs that the hospital also has on staff. The therapy dogs are available for support and cuddles for patients, staff, and visitors. Hektor’s role, however, is to help Mulder and the hospital’s 11 officers keep the UnityPoint Health campus safe.

“Some of the patients confuse the therapy dogs and Hektor,” said Mulder. “We do have to explain that he’s working and not a therapy dog. When Hektor has his K9 collar on he’s a different dog. He knows he’s got a job to do and he’s working. Everyone’s been pretty respectful and understanding of that.”

Hektor, who also lives with Mulder when not at the hospital, wears different vests and collars based on the work that he’s doing at the time. According to Mulder he has a tracking collar, bite collar, and more.

“In the event that you see him wearing a harness or a vest, he’s going to act completely differently because he knows that he’s working and has a very specific goal in mind. It means we’re going to a code or an emergency of some sort,” said Mulder.

Hektor was trained, like many law enforcement K9s, at Tree Town Kennels in Forest City. He is the third K9 at the hospital since Mulder took on the public safety supervisor role. According to Mulder, the other two dogs were either high drive or no drive to work. Hektor, however, is perfect for the job.

“As public safety officers at the hospital, we aren’t law enforcement so we can’t arm our officers,” said Mulder. “The next best thing has been to have a K9. Hektor is great at what he does and helps to keep everyone at the hospital safe.”

Hektor was funded through the Trinity Regional Medical Foundation and the United States Police Canine Association.