Community Impact Team

K9 Gema

In 2021, the Oshkosh Police Department partnered with Journey Together Service Dog, Inc. and started to train with Facility K9 Magic. Magic's impact on the community was immediately felt and grew with our Behavioral Health Team. As our Behavioral Health Team branched out, K9 Magic helped transform our approach to working with our community through the lens of mental health. Magic was used during our mental health related calls for service, employee wellness, and during our community outreach. Unfortunately, Magic passed away at the age of 3 after it was found that cancer had developed on multiple organs in her body. Magic's memorial service was attended by numerous people, community members, and community partners. It was clear that her influence and support had resonated in many of our community members and that this program needed to continue.

Our partnership with Journey Together Service Dogs continued and in 2024, we started to train with K9 Gema. Gema is a pure-bred yellow Labrador Retriever and is trained to perform similar tasks as K9 Magic. Gema loves being out in our community and joins us at our “Cocoa/Coffee with a Cop” events that are held monthly at numerous Oshkosh area schools or other community partners. Being a lab, she loves to play and interact with people, but she also takes her job very seriously and can offer unwavering support by providing comfort and companionship during moments of crisis. Currently Gema is stationed at our HOME (Homeless Outreach and Mental Empowerment) base, located at 101 Algoma Blvd. in Oshkosh, where she interacts with numerous community members who stop by to talk, are walking by, or utilizing our amazing down town area. We are so fortunate to be able to share Gema’s love and support with our community and make Oshkosh a better place to live, work, and visit!