About Kevin Brathwaite

Founder of K913 Training | Retired Detroit Police K9 Lead Trainer | Tactical Canine Expert

With over three decades of hands-on experience in dog training and law enforcement, Kevin Brathwaite brings a rare combination of tactical precision, behavioral insight, and real-world results to every dog and owner he works with.

Kevin began his career as a patrol officer with the Detroit Police Department, quickly rising through the ranks to become Lead Trainer of the K9 Unit. Within just six months of joining the unit, he was promoted to Head K9 Trainer—a role in which he trained dogs and handlers responsible for:

• Over 1,000 successful human recoveries using tracking dogs

• The seizure of millions of dollars in narcotics and illicit cash

• The discovery of numerous weapons and explosive devices alongside the Detroit Police Bomb Squad

His leadership revolutionized K9 operations. He authored an updated training curriculum certified by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) and increased successful tracks from 3–5 per year to over 45–50 per year. He also implemented department-wide protocols for K9 scene containment and increased deployment and apprehension effectiveness across the board.

Kevin was also selected for Detroit SWAT, where he completed a rigorous year-long training and selection process. As the Lead Instructor for the SWAT Training Division, he oversaw the selection and development of tactical officers for one of the most active urban environments in the country.

After retiring from the force, Kevin continued serving law enforcement as an independent tactical consultant, specializing in K9 deployment, officer safety, and high-risk operational planning. Today, he brings that same expertise to civilian clients—bridging the gap between working dog standards and everyday family life.

Whether he’s working with high-drive working dogs or helping families build lasting communication with their pets, Kevin believes the key is clear expectations, mutual understanding, and trust. His mission is simple: To help owners and dogs become the ultimate team.

Instructor Training & Certifications

• New Mexico Tech Mining School (2004)
  Certified Instructor – Terrorist Incident Response Training

• Oakland Police Academy K9 Trainer Course (2002)
  Certified in Advanced Law Enforcement K9 Training
  (Obedience, agility, apprehension, handler protection, tracking, detection, search work)

U.S. K9 Academy (1996)
Certified in Basic & Advanced Obedience and All Levels of Protection Training finds nothing more satisfying in this work than creating clear and realistic expectations between the owner and the dog. This increased understanding and common ground allows for owner and dog to form the ultimate team.