New K9 pup will be trained in narcotics detection for the Power County Sheriff’s Office
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AMERICAN FALLS — The Power County Sheriff’s Office is welcoming an adorable, four-legged employee as the newest member of the team.
Zeus, an eight-week-old purebred black lab is the department’s K9 dog and will be trained in narcotics detection.
“He is going to track people too. Whatever scent we will put him on, he will track. So if we get in a pursuit and the guy runs, we can have him sniff an item from the vehicle. He can track the person, or if we get a missing person, hopefully we can get a scent from an item, and then the dog can track and find the person,” said Power County Sheriff Josh Campbell.
Sheriff Campbell said there hasn’t been a K9 in the sheriff’s office for 10+ years and it was one of his campaign promises to get one when he ran for sheriff in 2020.
“We just needed that extra tool in our tool belts. It has been something on my mind since I took office,” Campbell said. “It’s invaluable. There seems to be an uptick in the dangerous opioids going on right now — fentanyl and the like — so to have a dog that’s going to be able to detect that is … you can’t put a price tag on it.”
He added that it’s especially important to have a dog like Zeus in a major corridor where Interstate 86 connects with Interstate 15.
Zeus was donated to the Sheriff’s Office by a local business in Pocatello called TK Hot Retrievers. Sheriff Campbell says buying a K9 is typically expensive and can vary from $1,500 to $6,500.
“This company has supplied over 200 dogs to law enforcement all across North America, federal and state. They have been training them and raising them for over 30 years,” Campbell explained.
Owner and retired professional dog trainer Jim Closson said a Power County deputy discovered TK Hot Retrievers and saw how Closson trained law enforcement dogs.
“We got to talking and he said he wanted to get a dog later and I said, ‘I’ll tell you what — I’ll just donate a puppy and when I have a litter, I’ll let you know,'” Closson said. “(The lab) is going to be a fantastic asset for the community in American Falls and Power County.”
Zeus could be on the job in the next six months. He has been partnered up with Power County Deputy Callin “Cash” Cardona. The pup has been by his side and bonding with his new partner.
“He is teamed up with one of the best interdiction officers I’ve seen in a long time,” said Sheriff Campbell. “We just want to express our gratitude and appreciation to TK Hot Retrievers. What a cool thing to do and what better way to serve your community than that. We are just so thankful to … Jim and his crew.”
