officer william r. lundquist and the k9 unit

The late Retired Officer William R. Lundquist began his career in the Minneapolis Police Department as a member of the Rookie Class of 1966-1967.

Officer Lundquist is in the 2nd row, 8th from the left. Photograph courtesy of Retired Officers James Hovda and Ronald Ottoson.

Officer Lundquist, along with his partner Sergeant, was a member of the original 1970 K9 Unit. The unit had eight teams. They were: Officer William Lundquist and K9 Sergeant; Officer Mark Jacobson and K9 Rommel; Officer Phil Bishman and K9 Lance; Officer Dave Neibur and K9 Thor; Officer Richard Stahura and K9 Trooper; Officer Dick Morrill and K9 Rex; Officer Roger Fancher and K9 Clancy; and Officer Charles Adams and K9 Lance.

Leveraging his experiences in the MPD, Officer Lundquist, along with Lieutenant Mike Fisher and Officer Al Hancock, helped the St. Paul Police Department to develop its own K9 Unit.

L to R, Lt. Fisher, Officer Hancock, Officer Jim Cocchiarella of the St. Paul Police Department, Officer Lundquist. Photograph from 1972 courtesy of Retired Sergeant David Niebur.

Officer Lundquist and his K9 partners were well known throughout the city and were a popular attraction at neighborhood events and at the Minnesota State Fair.

Officer Lundquist and K9 Rocky from the August 4, 1993 edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Officer Lundquist’s colleagues in the Minneapolis Police Department remember him as a great K9 officer and a good person who was devoted to his family.

Top photograph courtesy of Retired Officer Don Schwartz