MARSHALL — The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has introduced its newest member, a two-year-old German shepherd, set to undergo specialized training in drug detection and search-and-rescue. The K9 will be partnered with Deputy Beau Swenson, with both set to begin a 12-week training program starting March 10.
The new addition follows the departure of the department’s previous K9, Copper. The Sheriff’s Office worked with Performance Kennels in Buffalo, Minnesota, to select and train the new dog, with funding sourced from opioid settlement grants.
Unlike dual-purpose police dogs, Lyon County’s K9 will focus solely on detecting illegal substances and locating missing persons. To engage the community, the Sheriff’s Office is inviting children in fourth grade and younger to participate in a coloring contest, with the winner helping to name the new K9. Coloring sheets are available at the Law Enforcement Center in Marshall, with submissions due by March 10.
