Kevin & Jack
The Power of Connection
Everyone deserves someone who will not give up on them—someone who sees them, supports them, and believes in them. For many students at an Isanti County high school in Minnesota, that someone is School Resource Officer (SRO) Kevin and his four-legged partner, FSD Facility Dog Jack.
Kevin has spent more than a decade in law enforcement and the past seven years serving as an SRO. But in his heart, what has always driven him is a deep passion for working with youth.
“I truly believe the reason I was put here is to help kids,” Kevin shares. “I’ve learned to support youth, be a mentor, and be an educator.”
Over the years, Kevin saw students getting caught up in the criminal justice system and wanted to make a difference. He learned that when children feel genuinely supported and uplifted, even small moments of care can break negative cycles and restore hope and direction.
True human connection is priceless. But when that connection is more challenging to build—especially for students carrying stress, trauma, or mistrust in law enforcement—dogs can help bridge the gap.
A New Way to Connect
Kevin first witnessed the power of facility dogs through his connection with Isanti County Investigator Sean and his incredible canine partner, Cooper, a facility dog from Freedom Service Dogs (FSD). Read more about Team Sean & Cooper here! Seeing the highly-skilled comfort, stress relief, and emotional regulation Cooper brought to their fellow law enforcement members and the community left a lasting impression on Kevin. He knew that with the right dog, he could provide a vital resource to the students who needed connection the most.
And with that, he reached out to FSD.
In 2025, Kevin traveled to the FSD facility in Colorado to officially meet his new partner: FSD Facility Dog Jack (formerly Slash in honor of the nickname of Colorado Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor), an outgoing and affectionate black Labrador retriever.
During his two weeks in Colorado, Kevin received expert training from FSD staff on dog handling and how to skillfully incorporate Jack into his work. He even got to meet Colorado Avalanche Defenseman Devon Toews, who had the honor of giving Jack his birth name!
When the team returned to Minnesota together for the first time, Kevin wasn’t just bringing home a new companion, he was bringing home a new way to reach youth.
Fresh Beginnings
When the school year began, Kevin had never been so excited. He always enjoyed connecting with students, but he knew Jack would help him reach teens who might otherwise keep to themselves.
It didn’t take long before Jack’s impact could be felt.
From day one, students were drawn to Jack and his magnetic energy. As they stood in the front doors every morning to welcome students, more and more kids stopped by to say hello each day. Students who had never had a conversation with Kevin began opening up to him and sharing about their challenges at school and at home. For other students, they left interactions with Kevin and Jack with more joy and excitement to come and stay in school.
“There are kids that will not walk past us without saying hi to Jack,” Kevin shares. “Kids from all walks of life and situations. They’ll just stop and pet him and soak in the love because he’s a beam of joy. It makes them smile even if they weren’t smiling before.”
It became evident within mere weeks working with Jack that the rapport he helped foster between the students and Kevin was incredibly special and made a bigger difference than Kevin had ever dreamed of.
One day, as they were walking the halls, Kevin felt strain on the leash as Jack began pulling toward a student. This was unlike Jack, who was incredibly even-tempered and had been trained to walk calmly beside him. Kevin realized Jack wasn’t being disobedient—he was sensing emotions he couldn’t see.
As the student pet Jack, Kevin watched as his stress melted away. With Jack’s message clear as day, Kevin was able to offer that student, who had never been on his radar before, the support he needed. From that day on, Kevin began taking note of students Jack pulled toward so he could offer them extra support.
“I put my full trust and faith in Jack and everything he does,” Kevin says. “He picks up on things that I can’t, and he knows what people need.”
Impact Beyond the Classroom
Again and again, Jack has shown an extraordinary ability to notice students who need connection most—and to offer it without expectation or hesitation.
Earlier this school year, Kevin was a guest speaker in a classroom, teaching students about their First Amendment rights. As he spoke, he allowed Jack to wander freely around the room. Jack moved from student to student, greeting each one and offering quiet comfort throughout the lesson. But after visiting everyone, he turned back toward a girl sitting alone in the back of the room.
Jack gently placed his head in her lap and looked up at her, letting her know she wasn’t alone. She began to pet him, and everything changed.
While she was typically withdrawn, she suddenly became engaged in the discussion and was noticeably more focused. Since that interaction, every time she sees Kevin and Jack in the hallway, she stops to say hello. Having Kevin and Jack there for her has made a significant difference in her experience at school.
“With Jack, she didn’t have to ask for anything. He just knew she needed him,” Kevin says. “It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.”
Moments like this happen nearly every day.
In another instance, Kevin shared about a student who had struggled with anger and refused to accept his help. In the years before, he had episodes of high emotions, and Kevin wasn’t able to make a breakthrough despite his efforts. He knew the student was struggling, but he just couldn’t quite connect.
But on one of the first days of school in the new year, the student saw Jack and approached Kevin for the very first time to ask about him. Since then, the student started visiting with Kevin and Jack regularly. He even opened up about some of his struggles, and this school year, he has had less outbursts.
Kevin truly believes Jack is a big reason that that student is experiencing his education more positively this year. By opening a door, Jack has allowed Kevin to truly step in and help that student and other students like him.
“Jack helps open up lines of communication that weren’t there before,” he shares. “He’s able to make connections when no one else can, and it’s extraordinary to watch.”
Together, these moments create space for trust and conversation—a space for students to feel safe enough to be seen and vulnerable.
A Partner In Every Sense
Kevin and Jack may work within the halls of a high school, but the impact they make reaches far beyond the walls.
“These dogs can help people in significant ways that humans just can’t. Their impact can be felt for years in the right situations,” Kevin reflects. “My goal as a police officer is to help people of all kinds. These dogs make that so much easier, and he makes me feel like I can help so much more.”
For Kevin, Jack is more than a partner. He’s a bright light and a promise of a better tomorrow. Because sometimes all it takes to change a life is a moment of connection with another compassionate person and a dog who knows exactly who needs it most.
Dogs make a difference, and so can you!
In recognition of National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, please consider giving a gift of any amount to Freedom Service Dogs. Your contribution will allow us to partner more highly-skilled facility dogs like Jack with extraordinary school resource officers like Kevin. Give now!
If this story made your tail wag, you may also enjoy:
Brian & Guster: A Brighter Tomorrow
Doug & Thumper: Bringing Sunshine to the Frontlines
Published 2/12/2026
Contact Erin Conley at econley@