Merrick Sheriff Says New K9 Officer Has Been Busy in First 2 Months

CENTRAL CITY - Merrick County Sheriff John Westman says the return of a K9 Officer to the force has already made an impact. Westman says they county hasn't had a narcotics sniffing service dog on the force since 2010, and with an uptick in narcotics cases appearing in the county, in March of 2017 they began working to revitalize the program. Westman says local businesses (listed below) were very generous and helped the sheriff's office reach it's fundraising goal. The sheriff's office now has a Dutch Shepherd named, Shadow, that works with Deputy Tayor Samek. Since arriving in early April, the two have had 88 calls, 160 warnings and citations, 35 vehicle searches, plus 6 arrested for controlled substance possession, 2 for controlled substance distribution, 9 for possession marijuana, 3 for D.U.I., 3 for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, in addition to a school search and 4 minor in possession citations, says Westman. Shadow, will be at several upcoming events, including the Palmer Community Club Meeting on June 5th, at the Palmer Legion. "Adding Shadow to our office was a major endeavor and could not have been possible without the support of the community, other law enforcement agencies, and our donors. We would like to extend our gratitude to Lieutenant Russ Lewis, Trooper Justin Davis, Trooper Dail Fellin, and other guest instructors with the Nebraska State Patrol Police Service Dog Division who provided outstanding training to our team. A special thanks to the private citizens, businesses, community groups, and foundations listed below. Your monetary donations, services, use of facilities for training, and feedback provided for our program is greatly appreciated,"  said Westman in a Facebook post. You can see the businesses who supported the effort below, courtesy the MCSO. Preferred Popcorn Merrick Foundation  Archer Credit Union Pinnacle Bank  Palmer Community Group Dan and Sue Monaghan  Dr. Christian Tschanz Double-Lock Security TransCanada Keystone XL Casey’s General Store  Solt-Wagner Funeral Home Beer 30 Merrick County Drug Fund Dave and Diane Lewis  Compass Marketing George and Paula Rutten Palmer Rescue Squad Cornerstone Bank Tori Bose and Friends  Lemonade Stand Central City  Central City Public School Leadership Club  Countryside Vet Clinic  Joel Leetch Darrell Reynoldson  Jake and Heidi Bauer Lone Tree Towing  Palmer Public Schools James Chvala  Merrick County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition  Merrick County Attorney’s Office (MAPS)  Central City Police Department  Nance County Sheriff’s Office  Butler County Sheriff’s Office Fortunaires Foundation  Royal Canine USA Private Donors