TWO AREA K-9S NATIONALLY CERTIFIED

VIENNA - The police department's K-9 received national certification
this week for narcotics detection.

King received the certification Tuesday along with dogs from other
departments, some local and others from various states, said Vienna
patrolman Don Lindsey, King's handler. Belpre's police dog, Dutch,
handled by patrolman Scott Smeeks, also received the certification.
The K-9s received the certification in Belpre from the North American
Police Work Dog Association.

"We hosted it here. Along with the state certification we go ahead and
do the national certification. It's a tougher standard than the state
standard," Smeeks said.

Lindsey said before Tuesday's test, he and King had been certified
only at the state level.

"It's a higher degree of certification than just the state level,"
Lindsey said.

The pair tested as a team and met all qualifications, Lindsey said.
The tests consisted mostly of vehicle and open area searches.

"Whoever's doing the testing hides narcotics and it's up to you and
your dog to find them," Lindsey said.

Techniques covered in the tests already were familiar to Lindsey and
King.

King was trained in-house by the Vienna Police Department, Lindsey
said. Many individuals helped during that training.

Chief Gary Deem, a former K-9 handler, played a crucial role in the
training along with Parkersburg patrolman Blane Ritchie, Belpre
patrolman Scott Smeeks, Matt Hickey of the Marietta Police Department
and Ohio deputy sheriff Steve Heeter, Lindsey said.

"Each and every one of those guys would stop what they were doing to
help somebody else do better," Lindsey said. "They helped out a lot."

Lindsey said training King in-house saved the police department a
great deal of money. In addition, it helped Lindsey and King form a
closer bond.

"I know from working with him so closely what he's doing and what he's
thinking," Lindsey said.

King and Lindsey work together two or three times a week on training
exercises.

King is nearly 4 years old and his weight averages between 97 and 103
pounds. Lindsey has had King since the dog was 6 months old.

Deem said he was proud of Lindsey and King.

"Both of these guys did a tremendous job," Deem said. "You don't just
get that rating for nothing."