K-9 Unit

The Sioux Falls Police Department K-9 Unit provides support services to various divisions within the department. The K-9 Unit is composed of four K-9 teams trained and certified in criminal apprehension, drug detection, evidence recovery, and tracking. Additionally the K-9 Unit assists numerous other law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. The Sioux Falls Police Department’s K-9 Unit is a self-sufficient unit that trains and certifies its own dogs and handlers on a yearly basis.

In 2010, the K-9 Unit’s commitment to providing well-trained teams continued. The Sioux Falls Police Department ran two K-9 schools focusing on detection and patrol work. These schools were necessitated by the retirement of SFPD K-9 Deuce. Deuce was a single-purpose yellow Labrador trained in drug detection that served with the unit for five years before a leg injury took him out of service. This vacancy was filled by a two-year-old Belgian Malinois named Max. Max is a dual-purpose K-9 handled by K-9 Officer Paul Smedsrud. In addition to these two schools, the Sioux Falls Police K-9 Unit hosted weekly training sessions that were attended by numerous outside agencies.

In 2010, significant legislation was passed in South Dakota that provided for more severe penalties for killing or injuring police service dogs. This law now makes it a felony to kill an on-duty police service dog. Additionally, it is now a misdemeanor crime to injure, torment, strike, disable, or tamper with a law enforcement support animal. This law’s impact on the teams of the Sioux Falls Police Department has yet to be seen, but it does establish consequences should something of this nature occur.

In the summer of 2010, K-9 Officer Matthews attended criminal and terrorist identification and apprehension training in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The course, named “Desert Snow,” provides students with both hands-on and classroom instruction in criminal apprehension techniques specifically in the area of drug interdiction. This training provides law enforcement officers with an in-depth look at current smuggling trends, legal issues, and investigative techniques for interdicting drugs.

The K-9 Unit’s commitment to community involvement continued in 2010 as K-9 teams put on 35 presentations in Sioux Falls. These presentations included K-9 operations, safety topics, and demonstrative searches that gave citizens an inside look at the K-9 Unit. This face-to-face contact gave citizens an opportunity to meet the handlers and their dogs, ask questions, and see the K-9 teams in action. These presentations were given to children and adults of all ages, to include an Educator’s Summer Symposium.

The K-9 teams of the Sioux Falls Police Department are:

• Sergeant Jon Lohr and K-9 Andor
• Officer John Matthews and K-9 Taro
• Officer Shannon Irish and K-9 Rekso
• Officer Paul Smedsrud and K-9 Max