The K9 team of Deputy Jesus Rodriguez and Rico recently earned national certification from the USK9 Unlimited Dog Training Academy.
Rico, from the Netherlands, is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who has been trained to sniff out narcotics as well as to apprehend criminals and for tracking and handler protection.
Rico and Deputy Rodriguez recently completed a rigorous five-week course with USK9 in Abbeville then earned the national certification in patrol and narcotics work. Patrol and narcotics tasks, and obedience and tracking were the focus of the training.
The team currently works patrol.