The Texas State University Police Department is significantly expanding its therapy K9 program to bolster mental health and wellness support for the university community.
This initiative establishes two full-time therapy K9 teams that will provide daily support and crisis response, marking a major step forward in the department’s commitment to Compassion-Based Policing.
Officers David Velasco-Martinez and Monique Grijalva will lead these new teams. They will both undergo certification as Mental Health Officers (MHOs) in the State of Texas, ensuring they can provide effective, traumainformed and empathetic support to students in crisis. The department will partner with the nationally recognized Paws & Stripes College at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida to train its next generation of therapy dogs, ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and temperament.
