RILEY COUNTY– K9 Moses joins the Riley County Police Department (RCPD) as the first patrol K9 in the history of the department, according to a media release from the department.
The three-year-old Belgian Malinois marks the sixth addition to the RCPD K9 program since its inception in 2004. Moses received specialized training and is certified to detect illegal narcotic odors and is also the first K9 in RCPD history to be equipped with the ability to locate and apprehend violent offenders.
Officer Mark Racklyeft, who has been with RCPD since 2019, will serve as Moses’ handler. Both have completed 160 hours of training for certification through Code 2 Canine Services in Omaha, Neb. To maintain their annual certification, Racklyeft and Moses will undergo a minimum of 16 hours of monthly training.
“K9 Moses is a valuable addition to RCPD,” said Officer Racklyeft. “A dual-purpose police service dog increases officer safety while still being able to serve the community. K9 Moses adds another asset to locate missing persons and illegal narcotics, allowing us to continue to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for the citizens in Riley County.”
Participation in the K9 Unit requires a minimum employment of two years at RCPD along with the willingness to train regularly.
The team began patrolling Riley County together on July 19, 2023.