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police service dog (k-9) unit
Since 2010, the Sheriff's Office has operated a Police Service Dog (K-9) Unit consisting of Deputy Varilek and his K-9 partners:
- Winnie (from November of 2010 to March of 2013),
- Taz (from March of 2013 to January of 2024), and,
- Zigi (from January of 2024 to present).
In addition, Deputy Varilek is a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), specifically trained in the enforcement of impaired driving laws - particularly when drugs, not alcohol, are the source of the impairment.
The K-9 Unit actively assists officers from surrounding agencies and has been integral in the seizure of nearly $3.25 million dollars in contraband and currency associated with criminal activity.
In furtherance of drug enforcement efforts, Deputy Varilek is a member of the North Central South Dakota Multi-Jurisdictional Criminal Enforcement Team which consists of officers from 7 counties - Corson, Campbell, Dewey, Edmunds, McPherson, Walworth, and Ziebach.
Check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CorsonCoK9/
the K-9's - Past and present
P.S.D. Winnie
P.S.D. Winnie
P.S.D. Winnie
Deputy Varilek and Winnie were certified in Narcotics Detection in 2009 while Deputy Varilek was employed as a Police Officer for the Mobridge Police Department. When Deputy Varilek joined the Sheriff's Office in October of 2010, the Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Gall agreed to form a K-9 Unit and put Winnie back to work. Winnie wa
Deputy Varilek and Winnie were certified in Narcotics Detection in 2009 while Deputy Varilek was employed as a Police Officer for the Mobridge Police Department. When Deputy Varilek joined the Sheriff's Office in October of 2010, the Board of Commissioners and Sheriff Gall agreed to form a K-9 Unit and put Winnie back to work. Winnie was retired in March of 2013 at the age of 7 due to medical issues that caused her to have seizures. Following her retirement, Winnie lived out the remainder of her life with an elderly couple in Aberdeen, SD.
P.S.D. Taz
P.S.D. Winnie
P.S.D. Winnie
Taz was purchased from Code 2 K-9 Services in Omaha, NE in March of 2013. Deputy Varilek and Taz were first certified in May of 2013. Taz was a passive indication dog trained to find methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and ecstasy. Taz was also trained in tracking and evidence recovery. Taz's father, Roc
Taz was purchased from Code 2 K-9 Services in Omaha, NE in March of 2013. Deputy Varilek and Taz were first certified in May of 2013. Taz was a passive indication dog trained to find methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and ecstasy. Taz was also trained in tracking and evidence recovery. Taz's father, Rocky, was a K-9 for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Omaha. Rocky was responsible for the seizure of millions of dollars in drugs and contraband. After a brief battle with cancer, Taz passed away on January 14, 2024.
P.S.D. Zigi
P.S.D. Winnie
P.S.D. Zigi
Zigi is a highly driven Belgian Malinois born in Poland that was purchased from Next Level K-9, with the assistance of Code 2 K-9 Services. Deputy Varilek and Zigi attended Narcotic Detector Dog Camp at the direction of the South Dakota Highway Patrol and were certified as a team on April 12, 2024. Zigi has already proven himself to be
Zigi is a highly driven Belgian Malinois born in Poland that was purchased from Next Level K-9, with the assistance of Code 2 K-9 Services. Deputy Varilek and Zigi attended Narcotic Detector Dog Camp at the direction of the South Dakota Highway Patrol and were certified as a team on April 12, 2024. Zigi has already proven himself to be a great asset to our agency and to the citizens of Corson County! Believed to have originated in Israel, the name Zigi means "victorious protector" or "my victory", which certainly seems fitting.
criminal enforcement team
ABOUT THE TEAM
The North Central South Dakota Multi-Jurisdiction Criminal Enforcement Team (MJCET) was formed in 2018 by the Sheriffs in Corson, Campbell, Dewey, McPherson, Walworth, and Ziebach Counties as well as the Chief of Police in Mobridge, SD.
Since its formation, the team has grown to also include the Edmunds County Sheriff's Office and the Gettysburg Police Department.
The team is made up of officers and supervisors from each of the agencies above and was formed as a way for the agencies, who normally have limited resources, to assist one another with criminal enforcement efforts, highway safety, etc.
On a rotating basis, the team, in full or in part, travels from county to county conducting intelligence-led saturation patrols focusing on highway safety, the reduction of crashes, and the detection of criminal activity. The team members also lend a hand to other jurisdictions with the execution of Search Warrants, large-scale investigations, etc.
To be selected for the team, officers are required to attend extensive specialized training in Criminal Enforcement Tactics, Impaired Driving Enforcement, and Search and seizure.
Currently, there are 12 officers assigned to the team including two K-9 handlers, two Drug Recognition Experts (DRE), and several who are trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE).
Under the authority of the participating Sheriffs, each participating officer is cross-deputized in each of the seven counties which spans two reservations and three judicial court circuits. The team's authority is derived from a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which is updated and reviewed annually.
TEAM MEMBERS
In addition to the Chiefs and Sheriffs of each participating jurisdiction who supervise and are ultimately responsible for the success of the MJCET, the team consists of the following officers:
- Deputy Sheriff Layne Perman - Campbell County Sheriff's Office
- Sergeant/K-9 Handler/DRE Michael Varilek - Corson County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Sheriff Timothy McCartney - Corson County Sheriff's Office
- Chief Deputy/DRE Kyle Couchey - Edmunds County Sheriff's Office
- Sergeant/K-9 Handler Peter Eng - Edmunds County Sheriff's Office
- Chief David Mogard - Gettysburg Police Department
- Deputy Sheriff Justin Bentz - McPherson County Sheriff's Office
- Officer Nick Bratland - Mobridge Police Department
- Chief Deputy Travis Bentz - Walworth County Sheriff's Office
- Sheriff Gary Cudmore - Ziebach County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Sheriff Kyle Nilson - Dewey County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Sheriff Trista Bulit - Dewey County Sheriff's Office
TEAM STATISTICS
Since the team's inception, the following statistics have been compiled:
Total Traffic Stops: 1,555
Total Consensual Encounters: 18
Searches
- K-9 Sniffs: 71
- Probable Cause Searches: 55
- Consent Searches: 80
- Inventory Searches: 3
- % of Stops/Consensual Encounters w/Searches: 13.44%
- % of Stops/Consensual Encounters w/o Searches: 86.56%
Traffic Enforcement Activity
- Speed Citations: 201
- Speed Warnings: 930
- Other Moving Violation Citations: 112
- Other Moving Violation Warnings: 636
- Alcohol Citations: 18
- Alcohol Warnings: 21
- Seatbelt Citations: 18
- Seatbelt Warnings: 15
- Child Restraint Citations: 6
- Child Restraint Warnings: 12
- Total Citations: 355
- Total Warnings: 1,614
Arrests/Criminal Apprehensions
- DUI Arrests (Misdemeanor): 14
- DUI Arrests (Felony): 7
- Drug Violations (Misdemeanor): 256
- Drug Violations (Felony): 121
- Other Violations (Misdemeanor): 19
- Other Violations (Felony): 13
- Fugitives Apprehended (Misdemeanor): 12
- Fugitives Apprehended (Felony): 5
- Total Misdemeanor Violations: 308
- Total Felony Violations: 139
Total # of Operations by County:
- Campbell: 12
- Corson: 7
- Dewey: 3
- Edmunds: 8
- McPherson: 9
- Potter: 6
- Walworth: 14
- Ziebach: 2
- City of Mobridge: 1
- Multi-County Operations: 21