K9 Rino joins Washington County Sheriff’s ranks

WASHINGTON — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office added a new K9 team to its ranks this fall, welcoming K9 Rino and his handler, Deputy Ethan Hansen, after the pair completed an intensive certification program at Tree Town Kennels in Forest City.

County supervisors cleared the way for the hire in late September when they unanimously approved the contract to replace Drako, the department’s retired K9 who served for a decade.

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Sheriff’s officials restarted the program after several months without a working K9, and Chief Deputy Shawn Ellingson told supervisors that the office evaluated several deputies before choosing Hansen, who “showed interest” and committed to the role.

The contract with Tree Town Kennels totals about $15,000, covering the dog, the handler’s instruction, and veterinary expenses. Because the K9 unit relies solely on donations, fundraising became a priority long before Rino’s arrival.

Community support surged in September as the sheriff’s office held a cornhole tournament in Kalona that raised more than $10,000.

Hansen helped advertise the event on social media, promoting T-shirts, hats and the effort to avoid using tax dollars. He encouraged residents to attend, share the fundraiser details and guess the new dog’s name for a chance to win merchandise.

The sheriff’s office plans to make the tournament an annual event to sustain the program.

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Rino began training soon after the fundraising push, and Tree Town Kennels announced early in the course that he and Hansen “meshed very nicely after only one week” and showed potential as a strong team.

The kennel’s four-week basic handlers course compresses patrol-K9 instruction into a rigorous progression that builds bond, obedience, confidence and field performance. Hansen and Rino joined agencies from across Iowa for the fall 2025 class.

The program opens with foundational obedience and bonding work before teams progress into detection and patrol tasks. During the second week, all handlers and dogs became certified in detection through Dogs for Law Enforcement, which tests accuracy, independence and reliability.

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The DLE certification process evaluates the dog’s ability to detect target odors under distraction, in varied environments and across multiple search patterns. Rino earned certification alongside the rest of the class.

From there, the work intensified. Trainers introduced building searches, where dogs locate and alert on hidden suspects inside structures. Teams learned tracking methods used to follow human scent across different terrain, including open fields, wooded areas and contaminated environments with competing odors.

Apprehension training followed, teaching dogs to pursue fleeing suspects, respond to verbal commands, engage safely when required and release immediately on command. Instructors emphasized control and decision-making so handlers could deploy their dogs confidently without risking unnecessary force.

By the third week, teams shifted from isolated skills to practical problem-solving. Trainers staged scenarios that required handlers to adapt techniques during unpredictable situations, such as winding scent paths, obstructed rooms and shifting wind patterns.

Rino and Hansen practiced transitioning between tasks, such as tracking into a building search or moving from detection work into obedience under pressure. Tree Town Kennels reported growing confidence across the class.

The final week focused on deployment-style exercises designed to simulate the pressures of real patrol work. Teams completed roadside-stop scenarios with support from Mike Molstead Motors, which provided vehicles for controlled traffic-stop drills. Dogs practiced clearing vehicles for narcotics, maintaining focus during approaching traffic and safely operating around unfamiliar drivers.

The program concluded with advanced search applications and environmental challenges meant to prepare teams for field conditions. Trainers and certifying officials praised the class for finishing strong.

With graduation complete, Rino steps into a position that sat vacant since Feb. 1, when Drako retired after more than 10 years working with Deputy Nathan Schmucker. Drako’s departure left the sheriff’s office without a K9 for several months while administrators evaluated staffing and selected the right person to step into the new handler role.

According to Chief Deputy Shawn Ellingson, Hansen rose to the top because he showed interest early, understood the commitment involved and demonstrated he was prepared for the responsibility.

Hansen continues to show these characteristics as he returns from training with Rino, ready to integrate him into daily operations.

The sheriff’s office expects the team to support narcotics investigations, track suspects and missing persons, clear buildings more safely and assist other agencies when needed. Early indicators suggest Rino will transition smoothly into patrol work, and administrators say the team already shows the level of bond and responsiveness needed for effective deployments.

Washington County residents will begin seeing more of Rino and Hansen at community events and during routine patrol. The sheriff’s office plans to continue raising funds to sustain the K9 program and hopes the strong support shown this fall continues.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com