2012 Annual Report.pdf - Polk County Sheriff's Office

Division Lawtitlehere EnforcementCanine Unitdid youknow?Vehicle searchesby PCSO canines599In 2012, the PCSO Canine Unitassisted other agencies 758 timesThe Canine Unit is comprised of aSergeant and 22 canine teams. The deputiesselected for the Canine Unit are among themost motivated and dedicated members ofthe agency. Each patrol canine handler mustcomplete 400 hours (10 weeks) of tracking anddetector training (narcotics or explosives) priorto graduating to another 400 hour course bythe Florida Department of Law EnforcementBasic Canine Team Training.Deputy Shannon Rimes and K-9 WalkerIn 2012, Deputy Sheriff Shannon Rimes and his K-9partner, Walker, were assisting deputies in an attempt toapprehend a suspect.After receiving commands to exit the residence, thesuspect attempted to flee through the back door. DeputyRimes immediately recognized the suspect and order him tostop and surrender. The suspect re-entered the residence andattempted to flee through the front door.Deputy Rimes gave K-9 Walker the apprehensioncommand and directed him towards the suspect. K-9 Walkerchased and caught the suspect grabbing him on his leftforearm. While refusing to release his grip, K-9 Walker waspunched several times in his head by the suspect in an attemptto escape arrest. The suspect was able to drag K-9 Walkerand reach a vehicle, start it accelerate away from DeputyRimes while K-9 Walker still had a grip on his arm. K-9Walker showed remarkable courage and resilience, refused torelease its hold despite being dragged along the roadway forapproximately 200-yards. K-9 Walker was eventually thrownfrom the vehicle and the suspect led deputies in a vehiclepursuit.During the vehicle pursuit, the suspect intentionallyrammed his vehicle into another deputy’s agency vehicle,leaving it inoperable. After realizing that he would not beable to escape from the deputies and the aviation unit, thesuspect surrendered and was taken into custody.K-9 Walker received numerous abrasions along withsoft tissue damage on all four of his legs as a result of beingdragged. The suspect is still in jail and awaiting trial on a totalof 16 criminal offenses including, Carjacking, AggravatedBattery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Injuring a PoliceDog.This incident shows how resilient, tough, andvaluable our K-9’s are everyday in Law Enforcement. Theystand in our place numerous times a day in an effort to helpprevent injury and harm to other law enforcement officersand the citizens of Polk County.14