New sheriff’s office K-9 hits the streets

There’s a new deputy in town and he’s furry.
Very, very furry.
Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Figo hit the streets of Stillwater County with handler Sgt. Randy Smith in late April. The 3-year-old male Belgian Malinois has already conducted five searches and turned up drugs in two of those, including five pounds of methamphetamine.
Smith, who was recently promoted to sergeant, traveled to Shallow Creeks Kennel in Sharpsville, Pa., in the fall of 2015 to look for a new K-9, following the death of former canine partner Jordy in August 2015.
Shallow Creeks Kennels is a privately owned and operated police service dog importing and training facility that holds several federal contracts with agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The kennel searches Europe four times a year to find the best dogs for various law enforcement work. Figo was bred in Czechoslovakia.
Smith looked at 60 dogs and worked two.
“He became attached to me,” said Smith. “I knew right away.”
Smith completed Figo’s training and started service upon being certified.

BIG TRACKS TO FILL
Figo has big paw prints to fill.
In the six years Jordy worked for the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office, he conducted 40 to 50 searches a year and provided agency assists to the Columbus Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigations and federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI.
Jordy and Smith’s biggest case involved 125 pounds of marijuana found in a vehicle on I-90. The street value was esti­mated at $736,000.
Other noteworthy cases involved 40 pounds of marijuana, four pounds of methamphetamine, one pound of cocaine and many, many smaller cases. That work brought the coun­ty more than $50,000 in cash through drug forfei­tures. A recent case that has not yet been adjudicated could potentially triple that figure, said Undersheriff Chip Kem.
Other notable perfor­mances on the Belgian Malinois’ resume include tracking and finding two burglary sus­pects hiding in the Molt area.