K9 “Riot” to Retire From Grand Forks Police Department

(KNOX) – According to the Grand Forks Police K9 Riot will retire as a member of the police Department at the end of the year.

The Grand Forks Police Department obtained K9 Riot from the Winnipeg Police Service in May of 2016.

K9 Riot and Sgt. Preston Engstrom attended and graduated from the Winnipeg Police Service Basic K9 Handlers Course that same year. This course lasted 23 weeks. The team trained and certified in a variety of specialized skills, including tracking, area and building searches, locating discarded evidence, obedience, suspect apprehension, and narcotics detection.

At the time of her retirement K9 Riot is 10 years old and has been involved in hundreds of deployments throughout her career.

Some of the deployments include public demonstrations, illegal narcotic arrests, working with the Grand Forks Regional SWAT Team, evidence recovery, and apprehending fleeing suspects.

K9 Riot is being adopted by her long-time handler, Sgt. Preston Engstrom, where she will live out her remaining days with him and his family.

K9 Riot’s last shift will be on December 30th.