The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office currently has two police K-9s, Chopper and Titan. Both dogs are German Shepherds and are imported from the Czech Republic.  Investigator Collins Voxland with K9 Chopper and Deputy Jim Goham with K9 Titan are certified as K-9 patrol teams.

Chopper and Titan have many skills that make them a valuable tool for law enforcement.

TRACKING – Chopper and Titan use their heightened sense of smell to detect the path of fleeing criminals or missing children/adults. K9s use a combination of the sent of the individual and also the disturbed ground sent a person makes when they step. They can track across many surfaces to include concrete, grass, sand, and gravel.

CRIMINAL APPREHENSION – In the rare circumstance of a fleeing felon or violent individual refusing to surrender to law enforcement, Chopper and Titan are trained to physically apprehend suspects and render them into submission for law enforcement to take them into custody.

BUILDING SEARCHES – Chopper and Titan can enter a building and search it for an intruder in a fraction of the time it would take Police Officers.

AREA SEARCH – Chopper and Titan can search large areas for suspects and locate them using his heightened sense of smell.

DRUG SEARCHES – Chopper and Titan are trained to detect the odor of illegal narcotics. They are an extremely important tool in the fight against drugs in our community. When Chopper or Titan indicates to the odor of narcotics it gives law enforcement probable cause to search.

Chopper and Titan are considered a Deputy Sheriff and have their own equipment issued by the Department. Investigator Voxland and Deputy Goham both have special Dodge Durango patrol cars that are set up to ensure K9 safety and comfort. The patrol car has its windows tinted to help minimize the heat; it also has a temperature alarm that lowers the windows and sounds the horn if the interior temperature gets too high.

The patrol car has a special cage built into it for K9's; it has a rubber mat and is ergonomically designed for comfort and safety. The cage has a water dish that allows the K9 to stay hydrated throughout his shift. The patrol car also has additional lights on it to maximize its visibility.

The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office K-9 program is committed to serving its community and providing the highest quality of service to its citizens. If you wish to have a demonstration, feel free to contact Patrol Commander Major Lyle Lorenson at 651-267-2622.
 

Investigator Voxland and Chopper at a school demonstration