[New post] Larimer County Sheriff’s Office introduces new explosives detection K9
Trevor Reid posted: "The Larimer County Sheriff's Office has added a new K9 officer to its force that will serve as the agency's first explosives detection dog. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provided Ion, a 2-year-old English Labrado" Greeley Tribune
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office has added a new K9 officer to its force that will serve as the agency's first explosives detection dog.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives provided Ion, a 2-year-old English Labrador retriever, to the sheriff's office over the summer, according to a recent release. After 10 weeks of intensive training in Virginia, Ion and his handler Deputy Kevin Hobson successfully earned ATF certification, which the release described as the most stringent in the United States, placing Ion and Hobson "among the top tier explosive detection teams in the nation."
Larimer County Sheriff's Office K9 Officer Ion lays down in a hallway of the McKee community building at The Ranch Events Complex on Thursday. Ion, a 2-year-old English Labrador retriever, is expected to support public safety efforts in a number of ways, including special event security, searches and field operations, according to the sheriff's office. (Austin Fleskes / Loveland Reporter-Herald)
"Graduating from the ATF Explosives Detection Canine program is a tremendous undertaking demanding months of intensive training for both the K9 and the handler while at the academy," ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers said in the release. "We are especially proud of Deputy Hobson and K9 Ion for their continued dedication and commitment which can be directly attributed to being able to bring this important resource to serve and protect their community."
Hobson and Ion will be based out of The Ranch Events Complex in east Loveland, which is also providing partial funding for the position.
"We value the 20-year relationship between The Ranch and LCSO and the strength it brings to our daily operations," Conor McGrath, director of The Ranch, said in the release. "We are deliberate in our approach to public safety and committed to providing the community with a welcoming, safe, and accessible space for patrons. We're excited to welcome Deputy Hobson and K9 Ion in support of this shared mission."
Hobson joined the Sheriff's Office in 2013 and, after two years on the force, began working with the Northern Colorado Bomb Squad in 2015. He eventually went on to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Hazardous Devices School in Alabama where he expanded his foundation as an explosives expert.
He said he has worked for several years to get an explosive detection K9 for the office, saying it is something that has always interested him.
He said that it was great going through the program with Ion and quickly learning his quirks and personality, as well as how they work together as officers.
"He fills the void that I can't, and I fill the void that he can't," Hobson said. "It is a pretty cool partnership that has always interested me."
The two will support public safety in a number of different ways, including special event security and field operations, according to the release. Along with working events and sweeping The Ranch, he expects Ion will be called out to aid in other investigations that could possibly include explosives or firearms, Hobson said.
In fact, he was called to a camper fire that occurred in Red Feather Lakes just after midnight Wednesday that resulted in the death of a man and a dog. Hobson said Ion was called up to help rule in or out if any explosive odors were present.
"He is an evaluating tool to help us move investigations one way or the other," he said.
"Law enforcement must constantly adapt to meet the needs of a changing world," Sheriff John Feyen said in the release. "The addition of K9 Ion is a testament to LCSO's commitment to public safety here in Northern Colorado."
The two join the several other LCSO K9 units, including two teams in the jail certified in narcotic detection and five teams in the patrol division certified to perform patrol functions and narcotic detection, the release added.
As the duo settles into its new space in The Ranch, Hobson said he is excited to get to work with the newest LCSO K9.
"This is a dream come true," he said, later adding "All the cards fell into place and this is my dream position to be here doing this working with him."
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