Local K9 officer receives honors
WOOD CO., Wis. (WAOW) — A Wood County Sheriff's K9 and his handler are getting recognition from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler Association.
K9 Handler Brandon Christianson and partner Ace won Handler of the Year and Meritorious Tract with Apprehension awards.
The Handler of the Year award comes as a result of the team's work throughout the year. According to Wood Co. Sheriff's Department, Deputy Christianson and Ace deployed around 125 times, leading to 121 arrests.
"In one month alone in 2020 Brandon Christianson and K-9 Ace had a total of 35 felony arrests, three of them with weapons charges they located methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, LSD, fentanyl, and mushrooms," said operations captain Quentin Ellis.
Most of the time the deployments were narcotic searches, but they also conducted building searches, tracking and apprehensions.
The Meritorious Tract with Apprehension award came as a result of their efforts on January 7, 2020, when the pair joined Wisconsin Rapids Police in locating a missing woman with dementia.
Police say the search began around 3 am in below freezing temperatures with the ground covered in hard packed snow. The pair conducted two tracks, eventually finding the woman and giving her medical attention.
