The Streetsboro Police Department is welcoming a new furry face to the force.

Meet Mika, the new up-and-coming K-9 companion to officer Luke Nelson, and newest member of the Streetsboro PD.

Mika, just two months old, will soon start training with Halo K9 Training Academy—and when she's done, she'll have some big paws to fill on the force.

Mika's story starts not two months ago, but two decades ago when her dad, a German Shephard named Bagio, joined the Twinsburg Police Force with K-9 officer Joshua Miktarian. 

 

One of Miktarian's dreams was to see a litter of Bagio's puppies. Unfortunately, Miktarian was shot four times in the head during a traffic stop on July 13th, 2008, and died of his injuries.

His K9 Bagio was then retired from duty after five years of service, to live out the rest of his life with Miktarian's widow Holly and daughter Thea.

Now, 15 years later, Miktarian's dream was finally realized, as his K9 Bagio fathered a litter of six puppies with Holly's German Shephard Nala. 

One of those puppies, Mika, passed Halo K9 Service's screening test to start training as a K9. Following the positive results, the Miktarian family donated Mika to the Streetsboro Police Department, who was thrilled to welcome her to the force. 

"I’m thrilled the City of Streetsboro has agreed to take Mika on as a member of their Police family," Holly Miktarian said in a statement. "Thank you Chief Tricia Wain, Mayor Glenn Broska and the City of Streetsboro City Council for making this opportunity happen. I know Josh would be very proud of having one of Bagio’s 'kids' making a difference in your community."