SHERIFF'S OFFICE K9 PROGRAM SEEKING ASSISTANCE

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office has a long-standing tradition of providing the best law enforcement possible for its citizens and businesses. This tradition held true when we implemented our first Sheriff’s Canine Team in the 1980’s.

The Sheriff’s Canine Program was established to compliment the Sheriff’s services to the community. Highly skilled and trained teams of Sheriff’s Deputies and canines have evolved from the program and are used to supplement Sheriff’s operations. It is purely amazing to see these dogs doing what they love to do best, locating and apprehending criminals, finding lost or missing people, and searching for unlawful drugs. And their talents don’t stop there as they are truly amazing creatures.

After the recent retirement of three of our multi-purpose (tracking, searching, apprehension and narcotics) K9 partners- we are left with only one K9 team. Adding a second K9 team will enable us to have a highly trained dog team working every day of the week to help us protect you, your home and your community. Our tradition of providing high-quality law enforcement services continues as we plan for the future.

In the past, we’ve asked for citizen help and received a wonderful out-pouring of generosity from our communities. So it is with deep respect and gratitude we again ask for your assistance by donating to the fund for a second canine team. We are in the process of attempting to raise $25,000 -so please spread the word. No matter how small a donation it may be…It is one step closer to an additional K9 unit.

Checks can be made out to Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, attention Sergeant/K9 Supervisor Jason Riggs. Please write “K9 DONATION” on the check as a special fund has been set up to receive the donations. The address of the Sheriff’s Office is 613 Minnesota Avenue, Bemidji, MN 56601. You may also personally stop in the Sheriff’s Office front counter and ask to forward your check to the K9 program.

If you have any questions or would like to meet the handlers and our K9 please call 333-9111 or stop in any time and arrangements will gladly be made. Or, visit our booth at this year’s Home Sport and Travel Show.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp