Exclusive | Take a bite out of NYC crime: New NYPD calendar highlights canine heroes and human partners
It’s not your typical “dog and pony” showcase. The NYPD has just unveiled the 2026 edition of its Canine & Friends calendar, a yearly keepsake that spotlights almost twenty police dogs and horses—many of whom are named after officers who fell in the line of duty.
The calendar is funded entirely through private donations that go to the non‑profit New York City Police Foundation, and it brings together animals from a range of divisions, including the Counterterrorism Bureau’s Critical Response Command, the Emergency Services Unit, the Mounted Unit, and the Transit Bureau.
The cover image showcases four K‑9s—Chase, Taso, Rett, and Cato—alongside their officers at Grand Central Station.
Taylor Kahn, the foundation’s director of development, welcomed the new edition, saying, “This is the 10th edition of the NYPD K‑9 and friends calendar. This really highlights the work that NYPD officers are doing around the city to keep our city safe with their K‑9 partners and of course the horses of the mounted unit.”
The 13‑month spread includes 18 dogs and three horses. Each month brings a different story:
March spotlights Detective Katrina Narvaez and her K‑9, Freddy. The dog’s name honors Narvaez’s father, Lt. Federico Narvaez, who was tragically killed responding to a domestic incident in Brooklyn in 1996. Narvaez, who was nine at the time of his death, joined the force to carry on his legacy and was thrilled when she was allowed to name her partner. “I feel honored that they let me name him after my dad,” she told The Post in April.
Freddy, now eight, is a specialist in detecting firearms and explosive materials—including potassium chlorate, C4, and dynamite—and the squad operates out of the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Red Hook.
May turns the spotlight to K‑9 Diller. Diller carries the name of Detective Jonathan Diller, a new father who was shot dead during a car stop in Far Rockaway in March 2024. His handler, Detective Anthony Marciano, leads the unit alongside the canine.
November features Mounted Unit officer Detective Brian Magoolaghan beside his chestnut horse, Thor.
Other notable entries include a nighttime image of K‑9 Ranger—a member of the Counterterrorism Bureau—from the Freedom Tower, and a photo of K‑9 Zadro, who was named for the late Officer James Zadroga, whose 2006 death from a 9/11‑related illness prompted federal health‑care legislation for first responders.
August presents a lineup of six dogs and their handlers, with one pairing being Officer Antonia Ocasio and K‑9 Taso. Taso honors Detective Anastasios Tsakos, who was killed by a drunk driver who had spread hate against police on a podcast.
December shows Transit Bureau K‑9 Unit officer Michel Bellinger with K‑9 Zadroga from the Manhattan South Homicide Squad. This canine, again named after Officer Zadroga, continues to honor his memory.
The $35 calendar is available for purchase at https://www.nycpolicefoundation.org, with all proceeds supporting programs and initiatives of the NYC Police Foundation.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
