The Erlanger Police Department introduced its newest K9 officer, Samo, at the city’s monthly council meeting on Tuesday.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Clark, assistant police chief, introduced Samo, telling council the department has had a good relationship with Nancy Haverkamp, co-founder of the Matt Haverkamp Foundation, and encouraging residents to learn about her son Matt’s story.
Samo is a dual-purpose K9, trained in narcotics detection along with patrol work, tracking and apprehension. His handler is patrolman Clay Centers.
As of Erlanger PD’s May 2026 monthly report, the two were still in training, which noted they were doing well and expected to finish training and be active on patrol the following month. By June, Centers and Samo assisted in a traffic stop and located 14 grams of methamphetamine on their first shift out of training.
Samo replaces K9 Keno. Erlanger PD’s May 2026 report states Keno officially retired at the end of that month, around the same time his handler, officer Glenn Hartke, left for a year-long deployment to the Middle East.
The donation continues a longtime partnership between Erlanger and the Matt Haverkamp Foundation. The Cleves, Ohio-based foundation was established in November 2005 in memory of Matt Haverkamp, a K9 police officer, and since its founding has purchased 131 K9s, raising nearly $1.42 million through its annual fundraising events, sponsors and donors.
Samo is the second K9 Nancy Haverkamp has sponsored for Erlanger; the department’s other current dog, Esko, has served with Officer Matthew Hilvert since 2022.
