County K-9 unit wins trophy in state contest

By Sara StrongRock County’s K-9 unit, Deputy Ken Baker and dog Tarzan, made the county proud at a regional re-certification and competition event.Baker told Rock County Commissioners about the competition at their Tuesday meeting. He and Tarzan brought home a second place trophy, out of 59 units in the regional event. Baker said, "It’s accomplished through consistency and training." Out of a possible 700 points, Baker and Tarzan earned 685.5. The top score was 687.1."To achieve an award like this so early in our career is a fantastic achievement for Tarzan and me," Baker said.The K-9 unit was tested in a number of ways, including:
Article search — a person holds a small piece of evidence for 30 seconds and the dog has to find it in 12-inch high grass.
Box search — in a large area, the dog must find a person in a box, which sits among other boxes.
Obedience — the team is tested in heeling, walking control and distance control. Distance control is using voice commands from 50 feet away to control the dog.
Agility — the dog must complete obstacles in hurdles, crawling, broad jump, A-frame and catwalk.
Criminal apprehension without gunfire — the dog must not move while a decoy criminal runs; the dog must come when called even after starting a chase with a decoy; and the dog must physically apprehend a decoy.
Criminal apprehension with gunfire — a decoy fires six rounds toward the handler and the dog apprehends him.
Handler protection – a decoy physically assaults the handler and the dog must react without command."Each event demonstrates the K-9's willingness to work and to overcome obstacles that would arise in the streets," Baker said.Although Baker said he’s personally proud of the award, he said it couldn’t have been done without the other members of the Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Mike Winkels or the support of the Rock County Board of Commissioners. He said he’s also leaned on the continued expertise of his trainers in the St. Paul Police K-9 Unit.In other business Tuesday, the board:
Received an update on gravel tax collections from 2003: The Road and Bridge Fund got $20,064.61. Special Reserve Fund got $3,344.09. Townships got $10,032.32. Township revenues depended on gravel pit location.Breakdown of township revenue is: —Battle Plain, $1,869.87—Beaver Creek, $419.98 —Clinton, $421.98—Denver, $430.80—Kanaranzi, $419.98—Luverne, $2,056.19—Magnolia, $419.98 —Martin, $419.98 —Mound, $2,313.62 —Rose Dell, $419.98 —Springwater, $419.98—Vienna, $419.98.
Got an informational update on the local Veterans Affairs Office activities from 2003: —There are 942 veterans in the county who receive services through the local office —Veterans in the county received federal benefits totally $1,375,730 (for compensation, pension, education and insurance benefits) —221 veterans received care at a VA medical facility (outpatient and inpatient) —Veterans received $1,299,827 in VA medical care —In total, vets in the county received $2,675,557.