K9S UNITED ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER & K9 AMBASSADOR

Officer Cheth Plaugher & K9 HUK

Officer Cheth Plaugher is a Jacksonville native and began his career as a corrections officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in October 2006. In May of 2017, Cheth was selected to the canine unit and was paired with PSD Huk. After completing their training and certifications, the two began a very high pace and successful career, all credit to Huk. PSD Huk was a dual-purpose canine that specialized in explosive detection and criminal apprehension. Huk’s tenacious work ethic and drives coupled with his intense desire to show and receive affection, made him popular with the criminal apprehension and investigative units throughout JSO.

In 2018, Cheth and Huk began assisting the SWAT team and completed countless successful missions ranging from search warrants, criminal apprehension and surveillance, to SWAT callouts. Huk’s social disposition and capability to integrate with the team, led to him being the first apprehension canine assigned to the SWAT team full time in 2021.

Unfortunately, in July of 2022, while assisting SWAT with an unrelated surveillance mission, a police officer nearby was fired upon by suspects armed with rifles and calling for help. A few moments later a vehicle pursuit ensued. PSD Huk was struck three times by gun fire, after the suspects crashed their vehicle and were attempting to flee on foot. Cheth had previously attended a canine medical class sponsored by K9’s United and was able to use that training to provide emergency medical care for Huk while being air lifted to First Coast Emergency Care in Jacksonville Beach by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Air Unit. Because of the fast-acting helicopter pilots and the emergency field care provided by Cheth, doctors and staff were able to stabilize Huk and save his life.