The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TSCO) K9 Unit welcomes its newest four-legged team members, cousins Bowie (pronounced boo-ey) and Igo (pronounced eye-go.) Bowie and Igo recently received their Police K9 Certifications on March 30, and are now ready to paw-trol Thurston County with handlers Deputy Bagby and Nault.
The TCSO K9 unit consists of four handlers partnered with their malinois and German shepherd dogs. All four teams are assigned to the Patrol Division and hold the responsibility and ability to deploy to any special scene in which they are needed. The cars they ride in are specially equipped with a K-9-specific kennel, heat alarms and protective equipment to help keep the dogs safe in hot weather.
These single discipline dogs are trained in tracking human odor, handler protection, evidence searches, building/area searches and obedience. When criminals run from deputies and officers, the K9 teams are called in to locate the fleeing or hiding criminals. They track by smelling the distinct odor of the person they are trying to find through the skin particles left behind. To these dogs, these odors are as distinct and unique as fingerprints are to us humans!
TCSO’s K-9s have helped locate and arrest people wanted for serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, arson, burglary, hit and run with injuries, vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, auto theft, eluding police, and domestic assault. The training process utilizes complete bite suits and sleeves, balls and tug toys, a bicycle, leashes, and an agility obstacle course paid for by local Olympia resident Denise Halloran and her foundation.
Sergeant Rod Ditrich is a trainer for these dogs and is part of the Washington State Police K9 Association. “We have a group of trainers throughout the state that works together to put on seminars, training and certifying all dog teams in the state to ensure that they have the skills and training necessary to work the road and be certified as Police K9s,” he shares. Sergeant Ditrich stressed the importance of treating their dogs with respect and care. TCSO has the philosophy that dogs should work until they start showing signs of their age, at which time their hard work and dedication should be celebrated with a happy retirement spent with their handlers.
Currently, the K9 unit is switching over from its seasoned dogs, 9-year-olds Jaxx and Dexter, to its fresh additions Bowie and Igo. All four dogs are working in conjunction until Bowie and Igo are ready to take on the full range of their duties. While the newcomers are certified, Rod likened their experience to being like a, “16-year-old driver with a new license.” As we all do, they will need a few months of experience to get their legs under them and find their confidence.
Before Bowie, Igo, Jaxx and Dexter, there were also Daro and Arlo. Daro retired at the end of 2020 after his handler Deputy Shenkel was promoted to Detective, and K9 Arlo was medically retired after a critical incident on January 13, 2021, in which he was shot while trying to apprehend an armed suspect. Arlo had only been on the force a short time when the event occurred, and although his injuries were career-ending, he thankfully recovered and is living with his former handler, Tyler Turpin, who is a former TCSO deputy.
The ultimate goal for the K9 unit is to once again get back up to a team of four dogs. Because of this, TCSO is raising funds to hopefully acquire two new dogs in the future. The K9 unit prides itself on being a ‘no-cost program’ to Thurston County and its taxpayers, with the exception of the handler’s salaries and their vehicles. With help from the community, including their big supporter, Bailey’s IGA of Rochester, they were able to purchase Igo, pay for equipment, training, upkeep, and food for their K9s. In the age of shrinking budgets, donations kept this program alive. If not for assistance from the public and local businesses, the K9 program would have been cut to protect from losing deputies on the force. We are grateful that these dogs can protect and serve their community.
If you would like to donate in support of these wonderful dogs and their handlers, any donations are greatly appreciated, including equipment. To donate, please call the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit at 360.786.5851, or write a check to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) with a note in the memo line for the TCSO K9 Unit, and mail to 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW building 3, Olympia, WA 98502. Donations are tax-deductible due to their nature as a 501(c)(3) organization through the Thurston County Deputy Sheriff’s Foundation. You will receive a tax receipt upon request for any monetary and/or equipment donations.
