Temple University Police Officer Natalie Decoatsworth and her partner, K-9 Zaki, delivered some doggone friendly smiles while on patrol around Richie’s on Monday as students were eating lunch ahead of a busy week of studying for finals. 

“He’s a very cute dog!” said Abby Corcelli, a senior education major. “I work on campus in a residence hall as an RA. So knowing that there is a K-9 presence on campus and that they are working to make the community safer for everyone gives me peace of mind.”

Decoatsworth, who is K-9 Zaki’s handler, said their presence can be extremely comforting to those who need it, especially this time of year as the spring semester comes to a close. 

“It’s great to know that myself and K-9 Zaki are able to just come by to bring positivity to their days,” Decoatsworth said. “It’s great to visit them to let them know, ‘Hey, we’ll support you in any way we can.’”

Zaki and Decoatsworth officially hit the streets last month after completing 400 hours of training in explosives detection. Zaki can now detect 27 different explosives, including black powder. 

“I knew the minute that I met Zaki that we would be a great team,” Decoatsworth said.

Zaki is a 66-pound, 1-year-old German shepherd from Hungary who has his own passport. He joined Temple’s Department of Public Safety after Decoatsworth’s former K-9, Chandler, passed away last year.

“K-9 Chandler was a brave and selfless dog who dedicated much of his life to public service and community outreach. He was a special member of our department family and holds a beloved place in all our hearts,” said Jennifer Griffin, Temple’s chief of police and vice president for public safety. “While we will always remember K-9 Chandler’s contributions, we are so happy to welcome K-9 Zaki to the team. Together, he and Officer Decoatsworth make a dynamic duo who bring a lot of energy to the department. I know that with Decoatsworth’s experience, she and Zaki keep the North Philadelphia community safer.”

Decoatsworth described Zaki as a driven dog who loves his job as a K-9.

“It’s important that Temple Public Safety has a K-9 Unit because it helps to improve safety for our students, faculty, staff and community members,” she said. “For example, we recently had an incident where someone left a backpack sitting in an area for a few hours. So they called the K-9 Unit. Zaki and I went, did a sweep of the area and thankfully he did not indicate any explosives. So we help to give the Temple community peace of mind.”

Decoatsworth is also Temple Made and graduated from the College of Liberal Arts in 2012 with a degree in criminal justice.

“I always say Temple and our Department of Public Safety made my dream come true, because I absolutely love animals. Being able to have a K-9 with me at all times is really rewarding and motivating. And I really love the joy that K-9 brings to the Temple and North Philadelphia communities,” Decoatsworth said. 

She added that she has met children who live in the neighborhood who may be afraid of dogs. However, she reminds them that she and K-9 Zaki are here for them, too, if they ever need help. 

“Once kids in the neighborhood meet Zaki and pet him, they often say, ‘Oh wow! I’m petting a police dog!’ That interaction between myself, Zaki and them starts a bond, and we continue to build upon it every day,” she said.

She added that on patrol, K-9 Zaki either stays with her or will stay in a specially designed K-9 police cruiser. Its trunk was converted for any K-9’s comfort. Additionally, the temperature inside the vehicle remains at a certain degree while Zaki is inside. If the inside gets too hot, an alarm gets activated and the windows automatically go down.

“Fortunately, that has never happened,” Decoatsworth said. 

At home, Decoatsworth also has a second dog, a King corso mix rescue dog named Kelce. He and Zaki have quickly become best buddies.

“When we come home from work, Kelce’s right at the door and they greet each other and like to play together,” she said. 

“Zaki is still a puppy, so he keeps me on my toes,” Decoatsworth said. “I’m so looking forward to keeping North Philadelphia safer with him by my side for years to come.”