Nami, the Support K-9 of the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD), has been nominated for the prestigious First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award. This annual recognition, hosted by FHE Health, honors therapy dogs who provide exceptional support to first responders and their communities. Public voting for the award is open now through Dec. 4 and the BHPD is asking the public to vote for Nami.
Since joining BHPD in 2022, Nami has been a source of comfort and joy for both the Department and the Beverly Hills community. Her name, an acronym for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, reflects her mission of bringing calm to stressful situations and connecting with those in need. The BHPD supports a vote for Nami for a number of reasons, including:
• Critical Incident Support: Nami provides a comforting presence in times of crisis and completes 16 hours of support training each month. Recently, she offered invaluable support to first responders after a particularly challenging incident, helping them process their experiences.
• Community Engagement: Whether at Coffee with a Cop or National Night Out, Nami strengthens bonds between BHPD and the community.
• Literacy Promotion: Nami inspires children to read through Beverly Hills Public Library events like Nami Storytime and the upcoming Winter Tails with Nami (Dec. 13).
• Youth Empowerment: Nami has empowered young participants at the Beverly Hills Fire Department Girls Empowerment Camp and even served as a guest judge at the City of Acton’s 4th of July Parade.
Nami is a certified American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen and AKC Community Canine and is recognized by the National Association of First Responders Support K-9s. She is also training to provide support to security teams and athletes during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The winner of the award will receive, among other things, a charitable cash donation in their honor and a $2,000 check in support of their work. Votes can be cast at https://fherehab.com/first-responder-paws-award.
