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K-9 unit assigned to ISP
Wanda English Burnett, Editor

The Indiana State Police Versailles District has a new officer - a German Shepherd named Heiko. He is partnered with Trooper Chris Richey and the two just recently completed an intensive training session.
Trooper Richey and Heiko, along with two other officers and their K-9 partners, completed a 14-week training under the charge of Master Trainer Bob Compton, who has headed up the canine training for the Allen County Sheriff’s Department for the past 30 years. He has trained over 1,000 dogs for law enforcement. The students spent more than 500 hours training and preparing themselves for their new partners and the new challenges that lie ahead.

Heiko is a two-year-old full-blooded German Shepherd, who has been trained by his partner in obedience, agility, tracking, evidence, building and area searches, aggression control and narcotics detection. Training also consisted of canine first aid, legal issues involved with police canine, and how to keep physically fit. The training also consisted of 160 hours of night work.

Trooper Richey and Heiko were officially certified on June 15. They didn’t let any grass grow under their feet and the next evening while on patrol made their first felony drug arrest. An official graduation ceremony took place June 23.

Heiko is the first K-9 unit the Indiana State Police in District 42 (Versailles Post) has had. “It’s another tool officers can use in a variety of ways,” noted Sgt. Noel Houze Jr. He said the dog will make a difference in tracking, whether they are looking for a child or perhaps an elderly person with Alzheimers who has become confused and lost. The drug arrest the day after the two became certified is evidence of the help K-9 units are when making a drug arrest. “They (K-9s) can find drugs that are hidden from the human eye,” noted Houze.

Trooper Richey thanked the Dearborn County CASA, Jefferson County CASA, Switzerland County SCAT, and the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office for their financial help to make it possible to have Heiko as a partner.

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Trooper Chris Richey and partner Heiko are ready to "hit the road" after an intensive training session. The two made a drug arrest the day after they were certified. Heiko is the first canine unit to be assigned to the Indiana State Police Versailles Post.