On January 28th Rocky and I certified as a team at the Sheriff’s Academy by Joe Leach of the Folsom Police Department. For a few weeks Deputy Ian Carver will ride shotgun with us as he shows us the ins and outs of K9 work. Unfortunately Ian’s partner, Stazzo, had to retire due to an injury so he is stuck with us until his new partner hits the United States.

The night after training Deputy Carver (K94), Rocky and I worked a shift and I was very pleased with his performance. Although the night was rainy and somewhat slow we did get to assist patrol with locating a driver of a stolen vehicle who ran after a vehicle pursuit. After being on the department for ten years and working numerous assignments I felt like it was my first night on patrol. The pursuit kicked off in our Central Division and we were the first K9 team on scene.

We arrived on scene and I fumbled to get the right lead from the trunk. I deployed Rocky and off we went. I am sure Rocky felt my anxiety and probably wondered what was going on. You can not duplicate the adrenalin you feel on real calls during training. Rocky searched approximately 20 yards and did not tire once. Thankfully Ian was there to walk me through the searches and slow me down at times making sure I was checking all the boxes.

Rocky caught on really quick as to what our purpose was during the search. He tracked to a fence and alerted high where it was later determined the suspect had jumped over. At one point a man arrived home to a house several doors down from where we were searching. The man parked his vehicle and walked to a side garage door. When Rocky got the mans vehicle he tracked form the vehicle to the same door the man had just entered. Rocky took a good stance and let out a good series of barks. While some might look at him as a crazy dog I was proud that he worked the sent and back, I gave him a proud “good boy” and redirected him.

Since the search had negative results we cancelled the perimeter and continued to search on our own. Two additional K9 teams, Deputy Rick Kemp and “Clint” (K911) and Deputy Steve LeCouve and “Dantes” (K93), continued to search the area as well. Deputy LeCouve got and additional sighting of the suspect west of our location and the search was back on.

All officers converged on the area Deputy LeCouve had broadcasted on the radio. After searching the area Rocky took me on a run around a building where he ran directly to an open window. Rocky began to bark and jump up at the open window. I ran to the window with my handgun drawn looked inside to see two men sitting in bed watching TV. The building turned out to be a half way house. Again I gave Rocky a “good boy” and redirected him.

Since Deputy Carver had previously found suspects hiding in some abandon cars in the same area he directed me to that area to give it a once over. I got to the front gate of the residence and gave my K9 announcement as Rocky shot to the backyard passing 3 garbage cans. I looked in 2 cans that were away form the house and ran to the back yard since it seemed that Rocky was in odor. As I caught up to him at the side of the residence as he was running back towards the front. All of the sudden I heard a patrol officer yelling for the suspect to show him his hands.

Rocky and I stood by as Deputy Carver and the patrol officer removed the suspect from the 3rd can placing him on the ground. Rocky was looking at them the whole time with a puzzled look on his face. I pulled the trash can away from Rocky clearing his view of the suspect. Once he saw that the bad guy was in there he let out a good series of barks. At that point I think Rocky figured out the game that we were playing all night.

I ran Rocky back to the car praising him the whole way where he got to spend a good amount of time with his favorite kong. So even though Rocky did not find the bad guy that night he did in theory find 3 other people that we were not necessarily looking for, and I will take that as a good first night of work.