Police welcome K9 to first day on the job

Posted

Euchre Fundraiser set for pavilion on April 22

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - The Fort Madison Police may be short a few officers, but now they're plus one K9 officer.

"Norik", a 2-year-old male German Shepherd, went on his first day of work with the Fort Madison Police Department Wednesday with officer Warosh.

Fort Madison officer Greg Warosh spent 120 hours in Ashland, Ohio getting used to handling the brown and black shepherd. The training was a bit different than the other models that train the dog.

K9 Working Dogs International train the dogs on tracking, narcotics detection, bite work, and searches and then pairs the dogs with officers from police departments spending the training time acclimating the dogs to the handlers.

"The biggest difference is instead of getting a dog that's new and needs trained, this company gives you a fully trained ready-to-go dog," he said "The 120 hours is basically spent training you on how to handle the dog and maintain training."

Norik will live with the Warosh family who's had two other shepherds in the house prior to Norik's arrival.

Warosh said introducing the new animal went smoother than he anticipated.

"He does pretty good with them. It went better than I thought, but he's got his own separate kennel and fenced-in area that he stays in. He comes out for training and he's off the leash when it's just me and him in the yard."

Warosh's vehicle has a make-shift kennel at this point, but is scheduled to be retrofitted with state-of-the-art accommodations, including a temperature-alert system and automatic doors that can be released with a button that Warosh carries with him on duty.

Warosh said the K9 came from the same kennel that provided animals to the Burlington and Keokuk Police Departments. Keokuk's K9 team went with Warosh to the training sessions.

He said he wasn't surprised by anything during the training. Working with other K9 officers in the area gave him a pretty good idea on what to expect.

The Fort Madison Police Department is planning a K9 Euchre Tournament fundraiser on April 22 at the Fort Madison Pavilion from 5:30 to 9:30. Food and soft drinks will be provided with a free-will donation. Participants can bring their own beer/alcohol. Euchre starts at 6 p.m. for $5 per person with a .50 euchre fee. There will be a 50/50 drawing at 8 p.m. Sponsors of the event are Keokuk Walmart, Fort Madison Pizza Hut, Kempker's True Value & Rental Inc., Huffman Welding & Mfg, Huffman's Farm & Home, BJ's performance, and Catfish Bend Casino.

Fort Madison Police Department, fundraiser, German Shepherd, Greg Warosh, K9, Lee County K9 Association, news, officer, Pen City Current

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