Featured Department: Marathon County (WI) Sheriff's Office

ISSUE 63 OCT/NOV 2020

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10THAnnual International

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Nashville Sept. 14,15,16 2021 Tennessee

Nutrition: Feeding Your Dog in Cold Weather

K-9 Training: The Article Search

INSIDE: Featured Unit:

Marathon County (WI) Sheriff’s Office

MARATHON COUNTY (WI) SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Photos by Amy Zondlo Photography www.elementprojectplanning.com

Marathon County is located in the center of the State of Wisconsin, at the crossroads of Highways 29 and 51/I-39. The community is a blend of rural farmland with an urban center.

Marathon County, geographically, is the largest county in the State of Wisconsin with an area of 1,584 square miles. Deputies have a very large service area to

patrol and as a result, K-9s play a very important role for the Sheriff’s Office. All of Marathon County’s K-9s are dual purpose dogs. Their ability to have a wide variety of skills is an absolute asset to the communities, citizens and other law enforcement agencies in the county we serve.

The K-9 program was created in 2013 when Sheriff Scott R.

Parks decided to reinstate the program after a 20-year hiatus.

The program is funded by the work of many community members through fundraisers and donations. We are very fortunate and thankful to have the amazing support of the citizens of Marathon County, the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin and all the local members

Marathon County Sheriff’s Office exists to provide a safe, secure, and crime-free community through

trust-building, enforcement, and public safety management.

CORE VALUES –

Duty, Integrity, Respect, Team, Safety

1850 year established 89 officers 131 civilian workers

135,000 residents 1,584 mi2 area covered 2013 canine unit founded

FEATURED DEPARTMENT: MARATHON COUNTY ( WI) SHERIFF’S OFFICE K-9 UNIT

of the “Paws Enforcing Laws” group. In addition to donations, the program is self-funded and fueled by the various fundraisers the K-9 teams host, such as the annual golf outing, which is where the majority of the annual operating budget is acquired. Ultimately, our K-9 program is supported by the community it serves and the extra effort the handlers put in to keep it moving forward. The

fundraisers and generous donations make it possible for proper vet care, equipment and yearly certifications.

We are privileged and very thankful to have a few of our dogs sponsored. Special recognition goes out to Donald and Connie Huehnerfuss, who sponsored the purchase of K-9 Monty, allowing the K-9 Program to add a fourth K-9 to the unit. The

Marathon County Sheriff’s Office newest K-9 team is Deputy Charles Hessil and Ace. Deputy Hessil has been employed at the Sheriff’s Office since February 2019. Becoming a K-9 handler was a career goal for Deputy Hessil and in June 2020, he, along with other members of the K-9 Unit, set out to select his K-9 from Jessiffany Canine Services, LLC in Iron Ridge, Wisconsin. Hessil selected Ace, a 17-month-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic.

Deputy Hessil and K-9 Ace are trained in narcotics detection, tracking, article searches, apprehension and handler protection. They completed their training course on August 14th, 2020, receiving certifications through Jessiffany Canine Services, LLC and the American

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Norman Bradfish Foundation is another donor that shall receive special recognition. Mr. Bradfish established an endowment fund that is used to purchase law enforcement K-9s within Marathon County. The Sheriff’s Office along with the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin manages these great resources to better serve Marathon County.

Police Canine Association. The duo made their first drug-related arrest as a team just two weeks later on August 29, 2020, when Ace located a small lockbox in a vehicle containing 0.3 grams of methamphetamine, 1.8 grams of brown heroin, 0.9 grams of marijuana, 8 MDMA tablets, 73 Gabapentin pills, 41 Clonazepam pills, 9 Lorazepam pills, 1 Vyvanse pill, 1 loaded syringe, 34 empty gem bags, and an electronic weapon.

During the team’s first six weeks on patrol together, they worked 27 shifts with a total of 23 deployments, 20 of those being for vehicle sniffs.

K-9 Ace has assisted not only Deputy Hessil, but also officers from surrounding agencies in the arrest or referral of 10 individuals for drugrelated offenses.

Deputy Charles Hessil & K-9 Ace • On August 29th, 2020, the duo made their first drug-related arrest as a team.

• DRUG DETECTION • TRACKING

• ARTICLE SEARCH • APPREHENSION • HANDLER PROTECTION AGE:

11/2 YEARS OLD BREED:

GERMAN SHEPHERD COUNTRY ORIGIN:

CZECH REPUBLIC CERTIFICATIONS:

• Jessiffany Canine Services • American Police Canine Association

DURING THE TEAM’S FIRST SIX WEEKS ON PATROL TOGETHER, THEY WORKED 27 SHIFTS WITH A TOTAL OF 23 DEPLOYMENTS, 20 OF THOSE BEING FOR VEHICLE SNIFFS.

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4 0 • K- 9 C O P M A G A Z I N E

FEATURED DEPARTMENT: MARATHON COUNTY ( WI) SHERIFF’S OFFICE K-9 UNIT

Deputy Troy Deiler has been a Deputy Sheriff for the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years; the last seven as a K-9 handler at the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Deiler was one of the first two K-9 handlers for the department after a 20-year drought with such a program.

Deputy Deiler along with others assisted in fundraising efforts to be able to start the K-9 program in 2013.

Deputy Deiler selected his K-9 partner, Leo, a Belgian Malinois, from Vohne Liche Kennels, where they spent six weeks of training at the kennel located in Denver, Indiana. At that time, Leo was one of the youngest K-9s in the class. Leo will turn nine years old in March of 2021!

In 2016, K-9 Leo was awarded Wisconsin Profession Police Association Meritorious Award for tracking and locating an armed felon. In 2017, he received a commendation and lifesaving medal for tracking and locating an attempted homicide suspect who fled from the scene and attempted to take his own life.

In 2019, K-9 Leo conducted an article search and located the handgun that was used to kill one person and severely wound two others.

Deputy Troy Deiler & K-9 Leo • In 2016, K-9 Leo was awarded Wisconsin Profession Police Association Meritorious Award

• DRUG DETECTION • TRACKING

• ARTICLE SEARCH • APPREHENSION • HANDLER PROTECTION AGE:

8 YEARS OLD BREED:

BELGIAN MALINOIS COUNTRY ORIGIN:

HUNGARY

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Vohne Liche Kennels

• Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler’s Association

DEPUTY DEILER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TWO K-9 HANDLERS FOR THE DEPARTMENT AFTER A 20-YEAR DROUGHT WITH SUCH A PROGRAM.

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FEATURED DEPARTMENT: MARATHON COUNTY ( WI) SHERIFF’S OFFICE K-9 UNIT

In October 2016, Deputy Daniel D’Acquisto was selected to become a K-9 Handler for the Sheriff’s Office. Deputy D’Acquisto went to Vohne Liche Kennels and chose K-9 Monty as his partner.

K-9 Monty is a 5 ½ year-old Dual-Purpose Narcotics Belgian Malinois from The Netherlands. K-9 Monty and Deputy D’Acquisto went through a six-week handler course at Vohne Liche Kennels where they would learn how to work together as a team and build a foundation that would last for the rest of their career together.

Since the team graduated, they have logged 664 training hours, 363 deployments and 133 arrests.

Within K-9 Monty’s first month of patrol, he assisted the Marathon County Special Investigations Unit on a traffic stop where approximately $30,000 worth of Heroin was seized along with a firearm. K-9 Monty’s primary role is working patrol with Deputy D’Acquisto each shift and assisting other area jurisdictions.

Deputy D’Acquisto and Monty are also part of the Marathon County SWAT Team.

For approximately 16 hours each month, K-9 Monty and Deputy D’Acquisto train with other handlers in the Marathon County K-9 Unit as well as area K-9 Units in Central Wisconsin. Each year, they attend recertification and are members of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler’s Association (W.L.E.C.H.A.), which offers a three-day, scenario-based training conference that tests the different K-9 teams’ abilities.

4 2 • K- 9 C O P M A G A Z I N E

Deputy Daniel D’Acquisto & K-9 Monty • Deputy D’Acquisto and Monty are also part of the Marathon County SWAT Team.

• DRUG DETECTION • TRACKING

• ARTICLE SEARCH • APPREHENSION • HANDLER PROTECTION AGE:

51/2 YEARS OLD BREED:

BELGIAN MALINOIS COUNTRY ORIGIN:

THE NETHERLANDS CERTIFICATIONS:

• Vohne Liche Kennels

• Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler’s Association

SINCE THE TEAM GRADUATED, THEY HAVE LOGGED 664 TRAINING HOURS, 363 DEPLOYMENTS AND 133 ARRESTS.

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FEATURED DEPARTMENT: MARATHON COUNTY ( WI) SHERIFF’S OFFICE K-9 UNIT

K-9 Csibi is a nine-year-old Belgian Malinois trained as a dual purpose/narcotic K-9. He was born in Hungary, trained in Holland and brought to Vohne Liche Kennels, where he and Deputy Brandon Stroik successfully completed training in 2012. K-9 Csibi and Deputy Stroik have completed over 1,000 street deployments to include narcotics searches, tracks for suspects, lost or endangered citizens, SWAT deployments, area searches for TEAM TRAINING The K-9s of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office train twice each month and with the canine teams of surrounding county and municipal departments. The handlers are constantly locating different buildings and properties to train at.

This is done to introduce many different environments and to be able to challenge the K-9s to continually hone their incredible skillset. During this time, the handlers also help each other, as there is a wide variety of age and experience level amongst the K-9s and their handlers. Deputy Deiler has said he has been fortunate and grateful to have a few experienced handlers in the local training group when he started 4 4 • K- 9 C O P M A G A Z I N E

suspects, evidence and narcotics.

In late Fall of 2018, Deputy Stroik and Csibi were awarded the “Meritorious Track with Apprehension” Award presented by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler’s Association for the track and apprehension of a driver who crashed and fled on foot after a high speed vehicle pursuit. The suspect was found to be in possession of 434.27 grams of methamphetamine.

with Leo. As Deputy Deiler begins his eighth working year with Leo, he continues to help other handlers with his experience in an attempt as he says, to “pay it forward” with all the help he has gotten and continues to get from other handlers. The K-9 Unit is important to any law enforcement agency and all handlers should work at continually to make the unit, their K-9’s, and themselves better. Train hard, train often, and continuously challenge yourself and K-9!

The time, training and commitment put in by the Marathon County K-9 Unit has truly paid off, as many of the handlers and K-9s have been fortunate to be recognized for their efforts.

Much like parents of children,

the handlers have “proud parent” moments with their K-9s. It is important to remember their accomplishments and not to brag or even suggest they are better than other K-9s, but rather “learn from the bad and remember the good.” The K-9 handlers relate and tell stories of different growing pains they have experienced with their K-9s as well as moments where they leave the other handler in awe by what their K-9 is capable of and what they did.

Just like with people, there are good days and bad days. It is for that reason why being a K-9 handler can be the most frustrating and rewarding position wrapped all into one. This is also why being a handler is the greatest position a department has to offer!

Deputy Brandon Stroik & K-9 Csibi • Deputy Stroik and Csibi were awarded the “Meritorious Track with Apprehension” Award in 2018.

• DRUG DETECTION • TRACKING

• ARTICLE SEARCH • APPREHENSION • HANDLER PROTECTION AGE:

9 YEARS OLD BREED:

BELGIAN MALINOIS COUNTRY ORIGIN:

HUNGARY

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Vohne Liche Kennels

• Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler’s Association

K-9 CSIBI AND DEPUTY STROIK HAVE COMPLETED OVER 1,000 STREET DEPLOYMENTS.

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