Police Department

K-9 Unit

With the approval of Chief Koranda and the Maquoketa City Council the Maquoketa Police Department K-9 Unit began in March of 2005 with a fundraising campaign.

The response from private citizens and local businesses was overwhelming. As of December 2007, just under $17,000 has been donated to the K-9 program. This does not include other items that have been donated such as all of the materials for the kennel including the cement and the labor to construct the kennel and a 2002 Chevy Impala Squad Car donated by Brad Deery Motors. The support for the program continues to this day as Mitchell Maskrey donates all of the dog food, Becker Vet Clinic provides veterinary care and Fancy Pooch Dog Grooming donates all of the baths and grooming for the K-9 Unit.

In the summer of 2005, the Maquoketa Police Department decided on a kennel to provide the K9 Unit's training and where to purchase the dog from. In September 2005, Officer Brendan Zeimet began a 5 week training course with Mid-Michigan Kennels in Eaton Rapid Michigan. There, Officer Zeimet was introduced to his K9 Partner "Ricky". At that time, "Ricky" was a 13 month old male German Shepherd from the Czech Republic. While in Michigan, "Ricky" and Officer Zeimet were trained in the areas of Narcotics Detection, Tracking, Area Searches, Building Searches, and Handler Protection/Aggression Control. On October 20, 2005 Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" graduated from Mid-Michigan Kennels.

On October 24, 2005, Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" reported for their first day of work. As of December 2007, Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" have assisted in over 164 calls for service. These calls for service have been everything from narcotics searches to building searches, tracks for criminal suspects as well as tracks for missing juveniles.

During their narcotic searches, Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" have assisted in locating 4 ½ pounds of marijuana and 6.24 grams of methamphetamine. Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" have also located 79 items of drug paraphernalia; this is everything from marijuana pipes to hypodermic needles. During one search warrant, Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" located remnants of a methamphetamine lab hidden inside the wall of a residence. While assisting the Iowa State Patrol on a traffic stop on Highway 61, K9 "Ricky" indicated $10,000.00 in US Currency brought in from Mexico. (This money was unable to be forfeited).

Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" have also done 25 building/area searches. During these searches, K9 "Ricky" has made 2 criminal apprehensions. After getting called to an alarm at a local business, K9 "Ricky" located a suspect hiding inside the business.

Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" have been called to assist in tracking criminal suspects on 9 occasions. During these occasions, K9 "Ricky" has made one criminal apprehension and successfully tracked another suspect to his front door from a burglary scene.

Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" have also conducted 15 school searches for drugs.

Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" are continuously training. The partners train for a minimum of 16 hours a month and each year they must recertify in narcotics detection and aggression control/handler protection. In the past two years, Officer Zeimet and K9 "Ricky" have received training certificates and passed certification standards from Mid-Michigan Kennels, National Narcotics Detector Dog Association, Midwest Counter Drug Training Center, and International Work Dog Association.

GREAT Program | K-9 Unit | Bike Patrol | Annual Report | School Resource Officer
Maquoketa Police Dept Reserves