Sheriff’s K9 force grows thanks to donation by Vermilion Parish company

The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office has a new Deputy in training to serve Vermilion Parish in the near future.
A generous donation given by EnviroResources, LLC allowed for the purchase of a new K9, doubling the K9 force in Vermilion Parish.
Kopke, a three-year-old male Belgian Malinois, arrived in the United States after undergoing more than two years of training in Holland. After his training in both narcotics and apprehension, Kopke passed the Police Dog 1 (PH1) examination and was certified by the Royal Dutch Police Dog Association (KNPV), obtaining a total of 399 points.
To obtain a KNPV certificate, dogs must undergo training in things such as control and restraint, as well as power and aggression. The KNPV training demands that a dog be “of great character, physical strength, agility and stamina” if it is to make it through to certification. Once they make it through training, these canines go through a rigorous Police Dog 1 examination where they are scored out of a possible 440 points. For a dog to pass, it must earn 352 points. Canines are judged on such activities as swimming across a canal and returning on command, retrieving large objects, heeling on and off leash, and switching handler sides on command. They are also tested on remaining quiet during gunfire, guarding an object, searching, and apprehending.
Kopke is not done with his training, however. He must now be certified to work in the United States. Kopke and his handler, Deputy Shane Larson, will soon undergo a 6-week handlers’ course where the two will train together on canine safety and care, obedience training, narcotics detection, searching and apprehending, and other topics. Once the course is completed, judges will examine Kopke and Deputy Larson for certification under the National Police Canine Association. Obtaining this certification will officially deputize Kopke as a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy K9 and recognize him as fit for duty to serve Vermilion Parish.
On receiving these dedicated funds for K9 Kopke, Sheriff Eddie Langlinais says, “I am thankful to our friends at EnviroResources for recognizing the importance of a K9 force in deterring and stopping crime within Vermilion Parish. Partnerships like these foster the collaboration and unity in Vermilion Parish that I find most important to serving our residents to the best of our abilities. Thank you for your generosity.”