Charles City Ambassadors welcome Sheriff’s Office’s new K9 officer, Sirius

To The Press

The Charles City Chamber Ambassadors stopped by the Floyd County Law Enforcement Center recently to meet the newest addition to the County Sheriff’s Department, K9 Officer Sirius.

The department added the law enforcement dog in August following a successful fundraising effort that brought in more than $30,000 in donations in less than a month. That included selling 250 little stuffed dogs, which sold out within 30 hours.

“People in the country really got behind this after Deputy Luke Chatfield approached me about it with a plan on how we could go about adding a K9 dog,” said Sheriff Jeff Crooks. “The last time we had a dog at the county level was 25 years ago, when Rick Lynch was a K9 handler prior to becoming sheriff.”

Both Sirius, who just turned 2, and Deputy Chatfield, his handler, went through an intensive four-week training before the K9 unit was activated, the Sheriff’s Office said. The dog was trained in narcotics detection, tracking, apprehension and intimidation, searching rooms and clearing buildings.

“His ability to track is really something,” remarked Crooks. “He’s been quite an asset already. He’s tracked a few people already for us. He’s had numerous narcotics busts, and he and Luke have done a heck of a job. We’re excited about what’s going to come in the future as well.”

Crooks added, “Probably a third of the counties in Iowa have a K9 dog and more are starting to do it.”

He said a lot of different entities and businesses have pitched in to support the new K9 program, including The Mill which is donating dog food and the Charles City Animal Clinic donating veterinarian services.

Chatfield is the lone trained handler in the department, and Sirius lives with him and his family when off duty.

The cost of adding the K9 program was covered through donations and included specially outfitting a patrol car to accommodate the dog, as well as additional related equipment. Sirius will also be getting a bullet-proof and stab-proof vest.

“He’s one of us,” said Crooks of Sirius and the Sheriff’s Department staff.