K-9 Karson still missing; search in Greene Co.

HOW TO HELP

The Wilmington Police Department is appreciative of area residents asking to make donations for the department’s K-9 program.

Checks should be made out to: City of Wilmington

Mail to Wilmington Police Department, 69 N. South St., Wilmington, OH 45177

Or, residents can drop off donations at the police department

UPDATE @ 4:20 p.m. Feb. 4: The search for missing police dog Karson continues to focus on the central Greene County area.

Sightings of the 2-year-old Belgian malinois all parallel the state Route 35 bypass, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

The K-9 officer for the Wilmington Police Department has been missing since Dec. 23 when he fled a boarding facility where he was staying while his handler was out of town.

A reward is being offered for Karson’s safe return.

Anyone who sees Karson is urged to call Wilmington police at 937-382-3833 or Xenia police at 937-372-9901.

Donations are accepted: See “How to Help” info at bottom of page.

UPDATE @ 6:05 p.m. Jan. 17: Officers are out searching for Karson after there reportedly was a confirmed sighting of him today around U.S. 35 and Bickett Road in the Jamestown area.

UPDATE @ 4:15 p.m. Jan. 9: Wilmington Police Chief Duane Weyand said the search for Karson continued today east of Xenia toward Cedarville following a few tips called in for that area.

UPDATE @ 8 p.m. Jan. 6: K-9 officer Karson remains missing. The Wilmington Police Department said in a release that there have been a lot of valid sightings of the police dog that got away from the boarding kennel in late December while his handler was away for the weekend. The snow has helped in tracking the dog. Recent sightings in the central Greene County area have searchers looking there.

The department also sent out thanks to the citizens who are asking to donate towards the K-9 unit. Information is below on how to help.

UPDATE @ 5 p.m. Jan. 1: Wilmington Police Chief Duane Weyand said the search for Karson continued today. Several potential sightings have been reported, according to Weyand.

He said their search is still focused around the central Greene County area.

Karson has been missing since Dec. 23 when he escaped from a Clinton County boarding kennel, where the police dog was staying while his handler, Officer Jerry Popp, was on vacation.

There is a $2,000 reward to find Karson. Thousands of people are following the search efforts on Facebook, at

Anyone who spots Karson is urged to call Wilmington police at 937-382-3833 or Xenia dispatchers at 937-372-9901.

UPDATE @ 9 p.m. Dec. 31:

Police are putting out “Wanted Signs” to help find Karson, the missing Wilmington police K-9, who has been spotted in the Xenia area.

There were sightings today in the Xenia area of Karson, according to the Wilmington Police Department, which said the search for Karson has been focused in the central Greene County area.

The dog has been missing since two days before Christmas, when he escaped from a Clinton County kennel where he was being boarded while his partner, Officer Jerry Popp, was away on vacation.

UPDATE @12:20 p.m. Dec. 29:

A search for a missing Wilmington police K-9 continues.

A resident shot a video of a dog believed to be Karson, but his handler said the paws on the dog in the video appear too light to be Karson. A search is ongoing in the area.

The search for Karson continued Sunday with a large group of volunteers carrying tennis balls and calling for the K9 in the

UPDATE @ 3:30 p.m. Dec. 28: Spring Valley area.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple reports over the past few days from folks who have seen the Belgium malinois police dog.

His Handler, Wilmington officer Jerry Popp, said he was greatly encouraged by the turnout of about 100 people who are volunteering.

The volunteers walked the trails around the Spring Valley Wildlife Area in Greene County. Many carried tennis balls because Karson connects them with receiving treats, Popp said.

UPDATE @ 5 p.m. Dec. 27:

There have been several reported sightings today of Karson, the missing Wilmington police K-9, in the Spring Valley area.

The police dog has been missing since Tuesday, when he escaped from a boarding kennel where he was staying while his handler, Officer Jerry Popp, was out of town.

Greene County Sheriff’s deputies this morning set up a search perimeter in the 1800 block of Richland Road, and officers responded to several reports but have yet to secure the animal.

There is a $2,000 reward for Karson, and anyone who sees the dog is urged to call 911.

UPDATE @11:45 p.m. Dec. 26:

The reward to find Karson, the missing Wilmington police K-9 is now $2,000.

Dozens of volunteers searched Friday for Karson in Greene County. The canine officer has been missing since Tuesday, when he reportedly chewed through his leash and took off running from a boarding kennel in Wilmington, where he’d been staying while his human partner was away.

Officer Jerry Popp, Karson’s handler, said he found out Karson was missing while he was making his way back home from a vacation.

“I joke around every now and then he’s just a dog, but he’s not; he’s family, he’s my partner,” Popp said.

Police and volunteers have been searching for the K-9 since his disappearance two days before Christmas. Anyone who sees Karson is urged to call 911.

FIRST REPORT

Police in Wilmington hope the public can help find their missing canine officer, a dog named Karson.

The department posted pictures of Karson on its Facebook page asking for help in locating him.

Detective Josh Riley said Karson was spotted Wednesday morning at Center Road and Ohio 380.

The dog escaped Tuesday from his boarding kennel at the Clinton Animal Care Center, 960 W. Locust St., where it was staying while his partner was away.

Police ask people who have seen Karson to call the dispatch center at 937-382-3833.