Polk County Deputy Kyle Olson and his K9 Buffy have been going through training over the last three months to get certified so Buffy can work with the Sheriff’s Office. “We’re on our 13th week and have one week left,” said Olson. “Things are going really good. Buffy’s been learning and I’ve been learning just as much as she has.”
The training prepares K9s and their handles for both the United States Police Canine Association certification and the National Police Canine Association Certification. “We’ve been learning USPCA and NPCA standards,” said Olson. “I have to choose one of those when I get back to figure out what I’m going to certify in because I have to certify with her every year. We’ve been taking care of that. A lot of it is doing drug detection in rooms, inside and outside of cars, tracking, and a lot of agility and obedience stuff.”
Buffy was donated to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office along with her training by McDonough K9. “The nice thing with McDonough K9 is he certifies us at the end, so next Wednesday and Thursday I’ll be certifying in drug detection and some of the other stuff we do,” said Olson. “Then I’ll have a year and a half before I have to get recertified.”
Following their certification, Olson and Buffy will begin working the county together with their first shift on June 29. They’ll also be going around to various businesses and other events to introduce Buffy to the community. With many normal events such as the county fair, night to unite, and festivals being canceled, Olson said the community can also contact the Sheriff’s Office to see if Buffy and Olson can come to any community events that are taking place to meet her. “I know Sheriff Tadman has told me there are a few businesses and people that want me to come to meet Buffy,” said Olson. “As long as we’re free we’d be more than willing to come to have the community meet Buffy, and maybe show some drug detection stuff we’d do out on the street. And if people want to meet Buffy, they’d just have to call me, or Sheriff Tadman at the Sheriff’s Office and we can set up a time for the community to meet her.”
The Polk County K9 Program ensures Buffy has everything she needs to not only be a good working dog like training, and equipment, but a healthy and happy dog with food and toys to play with. Donations to the Polk County K9 Program should be addressed to:
Polk County Sheriff’s Association
K9 Foundation
600 Bruce Street
Crookston, MN 56716
