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Ep 42: The Bond Between Handler and Dog, Chris and Tambo
Description
K-9s don’t get a pension. They don’t get a retirement plan. They get us—or they get forgotten.
In this episode of Beyond the Barrel, we sit down with Chris Bingham—a law enforcement leader with over 20 years of service and a lifelong commitment to police K-9s. A graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, Chris has built and led K-9 programs nationwide—but his most powerful story is the bond with his retired partner, K-9 Tambo.
Chris opens up about loyalty beyond the uniform, the responsibility handlers carry after retirement, and why advocating for working dogs through organizations like Project K9 Hero matters more than ever.
This conversation goes beyond training and tactics—into leadership, sacrifice, fitness, fatherhood, and honoring those who served without a voice.
Off duty. Off script. Beyond the Barrel. Project K-9 Hero
00:00 — K9 Resilience
01:30 — Career Transition
04:50 — Growing Up
07:40 — Fatherhood Impact
11:00 — Communication Matters
15:00 — Finding Direction
21:00 — Entering K9
28:20 — Mentorship Loss
36:40 — Handler Bond
47:05 — Tambo’s Story
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