Retiring K-9

Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Department K-9 Bodo reaches 56 in dog years and is needing to retire. Bodo has been serving with the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff's Office for the last six years with deputy Jason Perkins. Recently Bodo had been on a call tracking a suspect when an officer noticed that he was limping. Bodo was taken to the veterinarian.  He got x-rays and the vet found out that his hips were out of place. The vet stated Bodo has been compensating for pain in his hips by using other muscles in his legs. He probably has been having problems with his hips for a year or so.

While Bodo is still on duty for the time being, he can not do any strenuous work, like building searches or tracking suspects. Perkins said, "Bodo has been doing narcotic searches during traffic stops, but that it is time to retire Bodo."

"I am very sad," he said, "With any dog and any K-9 handler will tell you that you develop a bond. It's emotional, but I am glad that the Sheriff's Department hopes to continue keeping the K-9 program going."

In the five years together Perkins and Bodo have been working hard according to statistics provided by Perkins. Perkins stated the two have responded to 408 calls. Narcotic searches make up 85 percent of those calls.

The drug problem in Scotts Bluff County is much more serious than most people realize," Perkins said. "I am getting narcotics out of every three vehicles that I am searching."

During Bodo's service over the last five years, Perkins said 113 pounds of marijuana, 38 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of cocaine and 1 ounce of heroin have been seized as a result of the Bodo's detection skills.

Although the county has three other K-9 teams, the Scottsbluff Police Department, the Gering Police Department and as well as the Nebraska State Patrol all have K-9 teams. Perkins said he and Bodo provide K-9 response is often working throughout the entire county.The Nebraska State Patrol K-9 is usually working along Interstate 80, which he is often the only K-9 officer who works the entire county. We also have a good reputation.

Perkins has attended training in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa and Nevada. To keep it's K-9 program operating, Perkins said the Sheriff's Department is turning to the community for help, just as they did when they purchased Bodo.

It will cost $7,000 to purchase a new K-9 to replace Bodo through the Oklahoma K-9 Academy. Perkins will train for two weeks with the dog, which will cost $3,000. Because of Perkins previous experience he only has to do a basic training to build a repertoire with the dog and any new commands that he will need to have as the dog's handler.

"We hope to have a new K-9 by June and have Bodo fully retired by then," Perkins said. He said he hopes to keep Bodo living with him. Scotts Bluff County Commissioners and Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Jim Lawson will make the final decision on Bodo's placement.

While the initial costs of acquiring a K-9 are high, annual expense for the K-9 program are minimal. He said the Sheriff's Department budgeted $1,500 for costs such as equipment, leases and other supplies, Perkins said.The minimal cost is due in large part to additional help from the community, with Pioneer Animal Clinic providing vet services and the Mercantile providing food.

Any donations to the Sheriff's Department are tax-deductible, Perkins said. "We want to keep the program going as long as possible," he said. Noting that the department feels the program is worthwhile and necessary in solving drug offenses. "Any donation of any size would be greatly appreciated."

Donations can be sent to:

The Sheriff's Department,

attention K-9 Unit,

1825 10th Street

Gering, NE 69341

Or if anyone is interested in further information

about the K-9 program you can

contact Deputy Perkins or Sheriff Jim Lawson

at 308-436-6667.