CODE 4 K9 provides customized SWAT/K9 INTEGRATION training based on the individual needs of each agency and their K9 program. Owner and lead trainer Erick Maldonado specializes in providing dynamic scenario-based SWAT/K9 training geared for real-world deployments, while maintaining industry standards and best practices.
Erick is exceptionally qualified to support law enforcement agencies in integrating SWAT and K9 units. He leverages his experience as a SWAT operator and Team Leader, combined with his background as a K9 handler and trainer. Additionally, Erick is an instructor with the National Tactical Officers Association, teaching a variety of SWAT courses, and a certified instructor with the National Police Canine Association.
Erick’s approach to training is simple: no dog is ever left behind. Erick works one-on-one with handlers and their dogs to maximize their training experience so each K9 team leaves feeling more confident in their abilities. Contact Erick at c4k9train@gmail.com to schedule your SWAT/K9 INTEGRATION class. See Services Page for more information.
Erick is a highly qualified use-of-force expert specializing in the deployment and integration of police K9 units in patrol and special operations. With years of experience as a SWAT operator. Team Leader, certified police K9 handler, and K9 Unit supervisor, Erick offers a unique perspective on the intersection of tactical operations and canine utilization..
Erick provides expert analysis and testimony in cases involving police use of force, with a particular emphasis on K9 apprehensions, handler decision-making, training standards, and agency policy. Drawing from extensive real-world deployments and supervision, Erick evaluates whether K9 applications are reasonable, necessary, and consistent with established best practices and case law.
AS an instructor with organizations such as the National Tactical Officers Association and the National Police Canine Association, Erick brings both field credibility and instructional expertise. Attorneys, agencies, and courts rely on clear, unbiased evaluations and the ability to explain complex law enforcement practices in a way that is understandable to juries, judges, and the public. Allow Erick to help navigate you through the complexities of K9 use-of-force. Contact Erick at c4k9train@gmail.com to start working on your case. See Services Page for more information.
Join Erick Maldonado on a gripping journey through his 29-year career in law enforcement, spanning intense assignments in SWAT, K9, and Search and Rescue operations. From adrenaline-pumping, high-stakes missions to heart-wrenching encounters with traumatic events, Erick shares his raw and authentic experiences on the front lines of justice. Witness the toll of PTSD as he navigates the haunting aftermath of his courageous service—a powerful account of sacrifice, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds forged in the line of duty.
Erick is a seasoned public speaker and storyteller. He is committed to sharing the valuable lessons he has learned from his career and the profound impact of his traumatic experiences. Contact Erick at c4k9train@gmail.com to book him as a public speaker at your next departmental training session. See Services Page for more information.
“As soon as the door opened, I saw the youngest of the two daughters lying on the bed with a gunshot wound to the right side of her head, bleeding profusely. She was still alive but had agonal breathing, clinging on to life. There was an AK-47 lying beside her, confirming the information that the suspect was heavily armed. There was a mirror glued to the outside of the bedroom’s closet door, and in its reflection, I saw a large screen TV with the Netflix logo in the center. Everything around the logo was blood-red. I felt like I was in the scene from The Shining where a massive amount of blood pushes around the elevator doors.”
“You can’t get any closer to nut-cutting time than this. You’re in the lion’s den, and you know the lion is in it; you just can’t see him. We entered the room, and I immediately saw the older daughter sitting against the wall in the deep left corner of the bedroom. She had a gunshot wound to the center of her forehead and showed no signs of life. Both girls were wearing the same pajamas my kids had been wearing throughout the month of December. I can’t even put into words how that image affected me in the moment and the years to come. We located the suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was seated against the wall between the glass slider and his bed. He was directly across from the daughter whom he had shot dead in the center of her forehead. He was alive but also had agonal breathing” .- NECESSARY EVIL: ECHOES OF THE BADGE
NECESSARY EVIL: ECHOES OF THE BADGE is coming soon and will be available on Amazon in hardback, paperback, and E-book as well as at Barnes and Noble.