A sergeant with the Riley County Police Department said his time as a K-9 handler was basically a “second marriage” for him.
Jared Hayes, 46, entering his third year in the position, spent a decade working alongside two German shepherds. He worked with Kato for six years until his retirement and death in 2016, then with Monster from 2017 to 2020.
He said Kato died only three months following the dog’s departure from work. The family took it personally; they counted their furry friend as one of their own.
“My wife (Adrienne Hayes) will tell you that I’m not much of a crier, but that’ll get you,” Hayes said. “They go to work with you, they’re at home with you, so it’s basically a second marriage. You end up treating it that way because you’re responsible for that dog, and that dog depends on you, and ultimately, you depend on that dog.”
Adrienne, who turns 46 on Friday, said her husband and Kato had a close relationship.
“Jared’s dream was to be a K-9 handler, and Kato and him had a special bond being his first partner,” she said. “Kato had a great career, and when it was time for him to retire, that was hard. Then the fact that he didn’t last very long after that was really difficult. I think the loss of the partnership and then the loss of Kato completely was extremely difficult and sad.”
Family legacy sparked Jared Hayes’ interest in policing from the get-go. His father, Stanley Edward Hayes, served as the police chief of Robinson, Illinois, and his stepfather, Mike Swick, worked as the police chief of Newton, Illinois.
Jared Hayes first served in the military because he wasn’t old enough to join the police force yet. Hayes said he always wanted to follow in their footsteps upon leaving the U.S. Army.
“I grew up in a home where law enforcement was big,” he said. “To become a police officer, you essentially have to be 21 years old. That was the original reason I joined the military. Where I was raised, there just wasn’t a whole lot of opportunities, so that was a way for me to pass time.”
Although Hayes wanted to join a police department sooner rather than later, the military gifted him the opportunity to see the world. In addition to being stationed at U.S. forts Benning, Hood and Riley, Hayes deployed to Korea, Bosnia, Kuwait and Iraq over his 9-year Army career.
The travel showed Hayes new perspectives he hadn’t seen before.
“It definitely opens your eyes to everything that goes on in the world, not just in your community, but everything outside to have a little bit more knowledge of what different cultures do and how they act on a daily basis,” Hayes said.
Riley County Police Department then-Cpl. Jared Hayes and his K-9, Monster, pose for a photo. Hayes considered his time as a K-9 handler like a “second marriage.” “You end up treating it that way because you’re responsible for that dog and that dog depends on you and ultimately you depend on that dog,” Hayes said.
Hayes said the exposure aided him in his job as a cop as well. He has since built bridges at two departments, spending time as a police officer at Kansas State University from 2004 to 2007, then transferring to RCPD.
As a campus officer, he spent most of his time interacting with college students, but he said Manhattan kind of turns into “a ghost town” during the summer. Upon becoming a county patrolman 17 years ago, he began spending his time in the summers more with high schoolers.
Hayes said there are some similarities, but everyone is unique.
“My philosophy has always been that it depends on the individual because everyone matures at a different rate, and how they mature is up to them,” he said. “A lot of that has to do with life experience up to that point. I’ve seen some 14-year-olds act like adults and some 36-year-olds act like teenagers.”
While each role has presented new challenges for Hayes, his dad’s composed behavior has stuck with him. Despite anxiety on the inside, Hayes’ outward conduct aids him on the job.
“His ability to remain calm and his demeanor kind of rubbed off on me,” Hayes said. “If you can remain calm and (victims) see that you’re calm, sometimes that’ll help them calm down. Then, they can start opening up and providing details about what occurred.”
Being relaxed is coincidentally also a character trait he and Kato shared. The two were playful at home while professional on duty.
“(Kato) was gentle and calm, but he knew when it was time to work, and he loved it,” Adrienne Hayes said. “They say dogs are like their owners, and it was very true. In Kato’s case, he was calm and sweet and quiet and gentle, but he got the job done when it required it, and Jared is very similar to that.”
Jared Hayes said victims tend to jump back and forth when reporting an offense that occurred. These traumatic events are often difficult to speak of until the person has the ability to remain composed.
Another trait Hayes has picked up along the way while working with K-9s is the ability to be more observant as a cop.
“The job in general, searching for drugs with the K-9, just gave you a new perspective,” Hayes said.
Mike Riley, post commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1786 in Manhattan, honors Riley County Police Department Sgt. Jared Hayes with the Officer of the Year award Dec. 18.
The sergeant has been named Officer of the Year by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1786 and acquired the RCPD Officer of the Year honors in 2009. During his time at K-State, he earned the chief’s award.
Hayes said although he doesn’t accept recognition very well, it was an “honor” to receive it.
“It does give you a little bit of a feeling, you know, that you’re doing what you should be doing, and that it’s appreciated,” he said. “You don’t get enough of that in this job on a daily basis. It makes me want to go out and try harder.”
Hayes has accomplished multiple goals, such as becoming the sergeant he is today. However, one lofty goal that he’s held since being a kid remains: becoming chief of police, like his dad and step-dad.
He said the goal was more attainable in Newton, Illinois, where he grew up, and that he’s OK with where he’s at. The long-time cop still has a zest for action, which was what led him to transfer from K-State to RCPD in 2007.
“In a much larger community such as Manhattan, I recognized that I’m not in the position for that at this time,” Hayes said. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that next step yet. As you progress, it always turns into more paper side than it does on the street, and I still enjoy being outside.”
