The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office is introducing its newest member, K9 Riot.
Last year, Major Patrick Cicero secured a Department of Homeland Security grant. A portion of the awarded grant money included the selection and purchase of a new explosives K9, along with funding the training of the new handler and K9.
Deputy Justin Phillips, a 16 + year veteran of the LCSO, was recently identified as the agency’s newest K9 handler following a competitive selection process.
On Friday, Deputy Phillips and members of the K9 Division traveled to Vohne Liche Kennels (VLK) in Denver, Indiana to select the agency’s newest member, K9 Riot.
K9 Riot is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois trained in explosives detection, tracking, and apprehension.
Deputy Phillips and K9 Riot are scheduled to attend an upcoming 6-week handler course at VLK.
K9 Riot joins the other agency K9s – Bosco, Miko, and Simba, all of which were purchased from and trained at VLK.