BENSON, Minn. — A dispute over the future of K-9 Red has come to an end after the Swift County Board unanimously approved the sale of the police dog to his longtime handler, former deputy Steven Henriksen.
The issue surfaced after Henriksen submitted his resignation from the Swift County Sheriff’s Office in May. In his resignation letter, he requested that Red be retired and allowed to remain with him, noting the strong bond developed through years of training and service together. Henriksen asked county commissioners to approve the transfer of Red and the dog’s equipment for $1.
In a statement, Sheriff John Holtz said the sheriff’s office objected to that request because K-9 Red is a county-owned asset that has received significant investment in training, equipment and veterinary care. The county instead ordered an independent evaluation to determine the dog’s fair market value.
That evaluation placed Red’s value at approximately $5,000. After receiving an offer from Performance Kennels, the company that originally trained and sold Red to Swift County, officials gave Henriksen the first opportunity to purchase the dog at the appraised price.
At its June 2 meeting, the Swift County Board voted 5-0 to approve the sale, allowing Red to remain with the deputy who served as his partner throughout his law enforcement career.
