City of Manitowoc K-9 Preservation Fund
In April 2010, with funding from grant monies and generous donors, the City of Manitowoc Police Department’s first K-9 unit was employed to enhance the City’s public safety activities. A K-9 unit consists of a police officer and a dog, known as a K-9, that is trained to assist the law enforcement personnel in their work which includes, but is not limited to, searching for drugs and explosives, searching for lost people, looking for crime scene evidence, and protecting law enforcement personnel.
Officer Koenig and “Neko”
In April 2017, K-9 Ully retired from the Manitowoc Police Department. Officer Koenig was assigned K-9 Neko to become the department’s first handler working a second K-9. K-9 Neko is a sable German Shepherd which was imported from Slovakia. Officer Koenig and K-9 Neko trained at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. He is a dual purpose K-9 responsible for drug detection, human tracking and area searches, evidence detection, building searches, and handler protection. Officer Koenig and K-9 Neko have been very successful since partnering together in 2017.
Officer Place and “Riley”
K9 Riley is a Belgian Malinois, dual-purpose police working dog trained in narcotics detection and patrol work. She has been imprinted to detect odors of narcotics including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Her patrol work training encompasses article/evidence searches, locating individuals through building searches, tracking, and area searches. Additionally, she is trained in aggression control and handler/officer protection.
Officer Place and Riley completed their initial training at Working K9 Kennel in Beeton, Ontario, Canada. They also attended Steinig Tal Kennel in Campbellsport, Wisconsin, where they received certification in Riley’s various disciplines.
K9 Riley holds a unique place in history as the first female police working dog in Manitowoc County.