photo: Amelia Kunhardt

Edward Hancock

K-9 officer, Weymouth

Tell us about yourself.

“When I was in the military I did some shore patrol and worked with the K-9 unit down in Florida. I said, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I never thought I’d ever actually get the K-9 job (in Weymouth). This is my dream job.”

“(My dog’s) name is Hax. He’s a German shepherd and comes from the Czech Republic. We went to Buffalo, N.Y., and got him from a breeder and selected him from about 12 dogs.”

“I’m proactive, have a lot of drive. I like to do my work. I’m into the action of the police work, making some good apprehensions and arrests. I like to stay busy.”

THE SKINNY

RANK: K-9 officer
AGE: 37
HIRED IN WEYMOUTH: As a patrol officer in 1998

BIO: Hancock grew up in Weymouth. He graduated from the vocational high school with a concentration in drafting. After serving in the Navy, he worked as a union crane operator with his father, then as a security guard. He took criminal justice courses at Quincy College and Curry College and was hired as a police officer in 1998. With his K-9 partner, Hax, Hancock works with the narcotics and special operations units. He is married, has a 5-month-old daughter and has four dogs, Hax, Murphy, Max and Walshie.

What would you have been if not a police officer? “A crane operator. It definitely was a career move by me to do my dream job ... but I was also satisfied as a crane operator.”

Best advice you ever got: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Person who gave it to you: My father

What do you do in your time off: “Spend time with my family and our brand-new baby. We like to hang out and enjoy our dogs.”