DeWitt Police K-9 OPERATIONS

Hi, and welcome! I am Officer Shawn Zeimet. I have been a police officer in DeWitt for eight years, and I have served as our department's defensive tactics instructor, chemical munitions instructor, and am currently a certified bike patrol officer. I became DeWitt's first K9 handler in March of 2005, when the department received K9 Slick, a dual purpose German Shepherd. K9 Slick is trained to locate illegal narcotics and conduct various patrol duties, such as tracking lost or fleeing persons, building searches, area seraches, article searches, and handler protection. Slick is seven years old, and lives at home with my family and I. Slick loves to go to work with me, and he is a great partner to have on the street. Slick's favorite game is playing hide and seek. Slick plays this game every time he is asked to locate illegal narcotics, track people, or search a building for a suspect.

In 2008, K9 Slick and I were deployed 25 times, assisting other DeWitt Officers, as well as the City of Clinton, Clinton County Sheriff's Office, and the Iowa State Patrol. Two Canine Demonstrations for the public were conducted; one for the Boy Scouts, and one at National Night Out.

Highlights from 2008 are:

* Tracked a suspect after he lead DeWitt and County Officers in a high speed pursuit. The tracks lead to an abandoned farm house where the K9's presence was enough for the peaceful apprehension.

* Tracked and located an intoxicated suspect from another state who fled on foot into a bean field after a vehicle accident. The suspect had been drinking.

* K9 used to search an apartment for a domestic violence suspect who beat up his girlfriend. K9's presence helped DeWitt units apprehend the suspect without having to use force to cuff him.

* We also searched three vehicles for citizens who requested a K9 search be done due to various reasons.

* Four Drug Searches were conducted at local schools to help deter kids from bringing drugs to school.

* In June of 2009, the K9 Team went to Michigan and earned certification through the International Police Work Dog Association in the following categories:

Narcotics; CoCaine, Marijuana, Heroin and Methamphetamines

Patrol:

- Tracking

- Area Searches

- Building Searches

- Article Searches

- Handler Protection

- Obedience

- Aggression Control

K9 Slick and I train a minimum of 16 hours per month, and usually with other local K9 Teams from the Maquoketa, Preston, and Clinton Police Departments, as well as with both the Clinton County Sheriff's K9 Teams and the Emergency K9 Operations teams. The continous training of the team keeps both the dog and the handler sharp and ready to go when called upon.

Thanks for visiting us!

Contact Officer Zeimet at: dwpdk9@gmtel.net