For six weeks, K9 Rye trained alongside his human handler, Officer Iside, to prepare for his future as a police dog.
The two-year-old Belgian Malinois learned obedience and protection, and he also spent hundreds of hours learning the special skills he’d need to be a successful drug detection dog.
The hours were long, yet rewarding, and at the end of the program, K9 Rye and Officer Iside received high marks in every category. It wasn’t an easy process, but K9 Rye’s hard work paid off at the end of April when he graduated from training and became the newest working K9 with the West Covina Police Department.
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Now that he’s officially on the job, K9 Rye is already making a name for himself. He’s trained to sniff out a long list of illegal drugs, and his special skill was called upon during a routine traffic stop on Saturday, May 19. West Covina police officers pulled over a silver Nissan Rogue on Vincent Avenue about 20 miles east of Los Angeles. The stop was made because of a vehicle code violation, but officers ended up finding a lot more than they expected.
During a routine inspection, methamphetamine was discovered under the driver’s seat. Officers immediately detained the driver, and a narcotic detection team was called to the scene as backup. K9 Rye was part of the team, and he was ready to show his partners exactly what he could do. Eager to get to work, K9 Rye led his handler around the car. He used his nose to perform a thorough inspection, and he confidently alerted his fellow officers that he had found something.
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The vehicle was impounded and transported back to the police station where the police dog indicated the car wasn’t all that it seemed. With K9 Rye’s help, officers discovered additional bags of meth stashed in hidden compartments in the car. They found drugs in concealed areas under the driver’s seat and also under the front passenger seat. In total, K9 Rye revealed approximately 60 pounds of meth to make his first narcotics detection a huge win for his police department.
Thanks to Rye, the drugs are off the streets. The driver has been charged with possession of methamphetamine for sale and for transporting narcotics in a hidden compartment. His bail is set at $1,000,000. K9 Rye performed his duty like the trained professional he is, and his fellow officers at West Covina Police Department are proud of his good work. It’s clear their newest recruit is a valuable member of the force, and he’s ready to continue protecting the public.
Featured image via Facebook/West Covina Police Department
