The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office has welcomed its newest recruit.  K9 Deputy Rocco is on board and is teamed up with his handler, Deputy David Wilke.  Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem talks about Rocco.

“He’s a little under two years old.  And because they don’t hold regular five week training courses on a regular basis, the next time Tree Town Kennels (in Forest City) will be holding a training (session) is March of 2022.  However, because the dog is in and David Wilke is available, he has gone up there for three days of intensive narcotics detection testing.”

Van Renterghem says Rocco can help now in searches for narcotics, but it won’t be until March when Rocco will be certified in tracking and apprehending suspects.