Matthew Aitken

Corporal Matthew Aitken has been employed by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, located in Tampa Bay, Florida since 2006.  Prior to joining the K9 Unit, Corporal Aitken worked in patrol and was an operator on the SWAT team.  He joined the K9 Unit in 2011 and has since become a certified K9 Trainer through FDLE as well as a K9 Team Evaluator.  Corporal Aitken has taught patrol schools and detector schools for numerous agencies throughout Tampa Bay.  He has worked two dogs at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and has competed with both dogs at USPCA Regional Trials.

In 2019, Corporal Aitken co-founded Blue Collar Training, which in its infancy offered obedience training to civilians, working with all breeds.  Training included in-home customized dog training as well as group obedience with a focus on teaching owners basic dog psychology, obedience with distractions, socialization, and the benefits of marker training.  Blue Collar Training has since evolved to offer training to certified law enforcement K9 handlers, focusing on muzzle training, bite work and agitation, neutralization to gunfire, and scenario-based training.

Class: Surviving a Tracking Ambush

In 2023, Cpl. Aitken was shot three times while tracking a burglary suspect.  He survived due to the heroic acts of his K9 partner Taco and Sergeant Jacob Viano’s quick actions to neutralize the suspect.  This class offers a debrief of the events that occurred and the lessons learned that allowed all three to survive the ambush.

On March 12, 2023, Corporal Aitken responded to a burglary call with his K9 partner Taco.  The suspect was actively running from other deputies and was last seen running into the woods behind a residential neighborhood.  Sergeant Viano arrived on scene at the start point and ran back-up as Corporal Aitken deployed K9 Taco.  K9 Taco quickly located the suspects track and led them thru the woods and over a fence into a neighborhood.  While tracking through the neighborhood the suspect emerged between buildings and fled upon seeing the K9 Team.  Corporal Aitken challenged the suspect and as he neared the corner he was last seen at, the suspect emerged from between buildings and shot Corporal Aitken three times, striking him in the neck, arm, and leg.  The neck gunshot rendered Corporal Aitken unconscious and K9 Taco immediately bit the suspect on his left side.  The suspect fired three shots at Sergeant Viano; however, those rounds missed as K9 Taco continued to fight the suspect.  Sergeant Viano was able to return fire and killed the suspect without injuring K9 Taco.  Sergeant Viano was able to control K9 Taco and coordinate back-up and medical assistance.  Numerous tourniquets were applied to Corporal Aitken and CPR was administered.  Corporal Aitken spent five days in the hospital and underwent surgery to repair a broken wrist and tendon in his left arm.  The round that struck his neck narrowly missed his spinal cord.  Corporal Aitken required physical therapy for both his neck and arm but is expected to make a full recovery.