Photo from Ottertail County Sheriff’s Office – K-9, Mojo, next his awards
Otter Tail County, MN – The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office is delighted to announce the forthcoming expansion of its K9 unit, with the purchase of a second police dog planned for June.
The new recruit, a Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd cross, will primarily function as a locating tool, adding significant value to the current sole K9 officer, Mojo.
The comprehensive training program for the new K9 will include a broad set of skills: tracking, narcotics detection, article searches, open area and building searches, apprehension, and obedience.
This is designed to enhance officer safety and bolster the protection of Otter Tail County residents.
The Sheriff’s Office acknowledges that the large area of Otter Tail County has been a challenging responsibility for Mojo alone.
With the addition of a new K9 officer, they aim to better serve the community and meet their operational needs more effectively.
The growth of the K9 program is possible due to the interest earned from State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and contributions from the American Kennel Club (AKC).
These funds will finance the new K9 officer, a 12-week joint training program for the dog and handler, as well as all the required equipment.
The Sheriff’s Office extends gratitude to past contributors and potential donors to the K9 program.
They encourage anyone interested in supporting the K9 program to send a check to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office or make an in-person donation.
In closing, the Sheriff’s Office expressed their anticipation to continue nurturing relationships with local residents through this expanded program and appreciates the support received.
For additional information or inquiries about the K9 program, Sgt. Zach Eifert and Deputy Mike Wing are the point of contacts and can be reached at zeifert@co.ottertail.mn.us and mwing@co.ottertail.mn.us respectively, or by calling (218) 998-8555.