Indiana State Police posts add new patrol dogs

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One of the newest members of the Indiana State Police dog squad is named Koda.

Trooper Hunter McCord of the Indianapolis post and the German Shepherd recently recently graduated from the Indiana State Police K-9 academy in Indianapolis after 400 hours of “learning obedience, narcotics detection and other K-9 patrol functions,” said a news release issued Friday by state police. “She is now certified in the detection of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin and Ecstasy,” the release added.

At the state police post in Peru, two troopers recently graduated with their police dogs: Andrew Baldwin, a five-year member of the department, with his dog Mack, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois German Shepherd mix; and Doug Weaver, also a five-year member, with his dog Smitty, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix. 

At the post in Versailles, Trooper Jordan Craig, a six-year member, and his dog Franky, a 1-1/2 year-old Dutch Shephard-Malinois mix, recently graduated.

At the Lafayette post, Trooper Devin Farmer and his dog Bo, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, recently graduated. A news release said Bo is named in honor of Trooper Peter “BO” Stephan, who died Oct. 11, 2019. Jessica Stephan and their daughter assisted Superintendent Doug Carter with presenting Farmer with his graduation certificate. 

State police now have 36 police patrol dogs and six explosive-detection dogs.