Osage County Sheriff's Department welcomes K-9 Zed

Thanks to residents' generosity, the Osage County Sheriff's Department now has a K-9 unit for narcotics tracking and detection.

Deputy Ricky Jarvis and K-9 Zed, a 25-month-old Dutch shepherd, have been on patrol since Feb. 18.

"He loves to be busy; and if he doesn't have anything to do, he'll find something to do," Sheriff Mike Bonham said.

"He's not one you can leave alone in the house," Jarvis said. "He loves to go to work."

Zed is trained in searching articles of clothing, buildings and large areas, and how to apprehend a suspect.

Jarvis said he has always been interested in what it's possible to train a dog to do. He learned how to read Zed's cues and communicate with him, but he said it took time to bond with Zed and figure out what he's trying to say.

"You don't get it the first day," Jarvis said.

"(K-9s) are, in my opinion, very important," Bonham said. "They are a huge tool in crime-fighting."

Bonham announced last April that the department was seeking help to get a dog.

The four-legged officer wasn't cheap. The sheriff's office estimated last April it would need $14,859 to purchase the dog, put it through training and deal with other associated expenses.

At the end of January, Bonham said, the department had received $22,271 in donations from residents.

"We received more than cost of the K-9 and training," Bonhman said. "We have set up a fund that will be maintained for vet and other costs that will come up over the next year. I'm overwhelmed by the support for this program."