Sheriff gets first K-9 officer

A four-legged crime fighter soon will be patrolling Dodge County.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office recently acquired Nika, a 10-month-old Belgian Malinois, to be the department’s first K-9 officer.

“It’s something we’ve been looking at basically since I took office,” Sheriff Steve Hespen said. “We’re just excited to see that it’s finally under way.”

Funds for Nika were acquired through a grant obtained by the sheriff’s office and Fremont Police Department.

Hespen said his office used its portion of the funds to purchase Nika from a breeder in New Mexico and pay for start-up fees such as providing housing for the dog and basic equipment.

Deputy Alicia Schafer, who is assigned to Nika, has taken the dog to Omaha for training five days a week for the past three weeks.

“She’s gone really far really quickly considering she’s only

10 months old,” Schafer said.

Schafer, who also works with Nika at home on the weekends, said the hopes are Nika will be fully trained by the end of the year.

Schafer said Nika will finish up her narcotics training next week and also has been working on obedience and patrol work.

“We’re just trying to introduce her to everything and let her get used to me,” Schafer said.

Once trained, Nika will be able to assist the department in several ways, including tracking suspects and missing people.

Another main use for the K-9 officer will be to help search for drugs.

“Everyone is aware of the drug activity that occurs on the interstate,” Hespen said. “With three major highways running through Dodge County, the information is there and we believe major state highways are also

being used to transport narcotics,” Hespen said. “This will be an essential part of honing in on that traffic.”

Nika also would be available to assist other agencies, including Fremont Police and the Nebraska State Patrol, Hespen said.

Schafer, who has been with the sheriff’s office for three years, said she initially was reluctant to volunteer to work with a K-9 officer.

“I kind of thought about it a little longer and I was like, ‘It would be a really great asset to the county and it would be great to have that backup with you 24/7,’” Schafer said. “The quality of what dogs can do, their work and everything, they can help you out.”

Schafer said she also is working to build a relationship with Nika.

“She’s definitely still a puppy and wants to play a lot and get out and run, which is fine ... but once we get into the car and she knows we’re going to training she settles down quite a bit because she knows we’re going to work,” Schafer said.