Officer Atkinson & K9 Officer Thistle

New Support Team for Students and the Community.

K9 Officer

Officer Bio

My name is Mallory Atkinson; I was born and raised in Colorado! I have been with the Littleton Police Department since 2015.  I started working in the medical field right out of High School, was accepted into Nursing school, and decided the day of my orientation to follow my passion of becoming a police officer.  
 
My dad was in law enforcement for over 30 years which gave me a unique perspective on the profession from an early age.  I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the strong sense of camaraderie, commitment, and shared purpose that exists within the law enforcement community.  
 
I attended the Lakewood/Jeffco Combined Regional Academy and graduated in June 2015.  I worked as a patrol officer for 10 years before transitioning to a School Resource Officer where I was assigned to Heritage High School. 
 
Becoming a School Resource Officer provided me with the opportunity to expand the way I connect with and support students.  It opened the door for me to incorporate a therapy dog into my role, creating an additional way for building relationships and establishing trust with students.
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K9 Bio

Thistle has been an amazing addition to the Littleton Police Department and Heritage High school.  
Thistle is a 2-year-old Newfoundland Golden with a big heart, and a gentle spirt that make him perfectly suited for his role as a facility dog.   Thistle was raised and custom trained by Freedom Service Dogs of America (FSD) to assist his partner, Officer Atkinson, in building rapport with students within Heritage High School, providing therapeutic support to youth, and offering an important resource to other member of the community.  Thistle performs highly skilled tasks, such a providing deep pressure therapy and grounding, to foster comfort, stress relief, and emotional regulation.  When he's off the clock, Thistle enjoys going for long walks, spending time with his loved ones, playing fetch, and snoozing in the sun.

  • Name: Thistle

  • Breed: Newfoundland Golden

  • Birthplace: Colorado

  • Birthdate: 2024

  • In my free time, I like to: Go for long walks, spend time with my loved ones, play fetch and snooze in the sun.

  • My favorite toys: Stuffed Monkey Toy

  • A typical day for me: A long walk, going to school and seeing and supporting all my student friends.

Sponsor Mallory & Thistle