K9 Unit

The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office K9’s are trained as dual purpose. Meaning, they are trained in patrol and narcotics. The patrol portion consists of tracking, apprehension, building/article searches and obedience. The narcotic portion consists of an odor recognition test, outside area testing, building testing and vehicle testing. In addition, the K9’s are utilized in tracking lost or missing children and adults. Both the handlers and K9’s complete an intense 8-week training course prior to being certified for patrol and narcotics.

The Vigo County Sheriff’s Office K9’s are also used for demonstrations and educational purposes at our local schools.

If you have more questions about our K9 program or would like to make a donation please contact us by email to k9program@vigosheriff.in.gov

Patrol Canines

Law enforcement agencies all over the United States have long recognized the value of properly trained police service dogs. Our K9’s, due to their strength, agility, courage, and other amazing capabilities, can be utilized to assist in various tasks in a more thorough and efficient manner. Because of these attributes, police service dogs are used to assist in searching and apprehending criminals.

In general, the patrol K9 is used to enhance the capability of patrol deputies responding to calls, provide physical back up when necessary and to provide psychological support. In potentially dangerous situations, a police K9 can offer an incredible advantage by locating a hiding suspect, therefore, possibly preventing exposure of an officer to a violent confrontation or at least giving the officer an indication a confrontation is immediately forthcoming. Just the mere presence of the K9, most times, dynamically changes the suspects thinking and causes surrender.

Narcotics Detection Canine

The Vigo County Sheriff’s K9’s have been trained and are certified yearly to detect the presence of odor in marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, MDMA (ecstasy) and cocaine. The ability of our K9s to locate concealed narcotics rests with two major qualities. The first is the dog’s amazing olfactory or sense of smell capability. When this remarkable sense is coupled with the dog’s strong play and hunt drive, the dogs are taught to associate the scent of a specific narcotic odor with their “reward” or “toy.”

To earn this reward, the dogs are trained to search boxes, rooms, yards, vehicles, buses, truck trailers, open areas and hundreds of other locations where there is a likelihood someone may have hidden narcotics.

Assisting our K9’s

The Vigo County Sheriff’s K9 Unit constantly looks for areas to train. If you have an area such as a commercial building that is not occupied, an outdoor large fenced area, vacant apartments or any other areas where training can take place, please let us know. We strive to find facilities that are suitable for training.

We train every month and make rounds to different training areas to change the environment for the K9s. The mere presence of our K9s and their handlers at your property deters crime.

K9 Donations

The Vigo County Sheriff’s K9 Unit gratefully accepts donations to assist with funding equipment and other items needed to run a successful program.

If you would like to make a donation please contact us by email to k9program@vigosheriff.in.gov.

K9 FAQs

Where are the dogs when they’re not on duty?

Vigo County Sheriff’s Office K9s are kept at the handler's home in an area that allows the K9 to rest when off duty.

What about when they’re done being ‘police dogs’?

Family unity is important to these four-legged deputies and being with their handler is all they know. Therefore, the handler keeps the K9, subject to the sheriff, once they retire.