Meet Weber County’s new K-9 ‘Ronin’
WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — A two-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois is joining the Weber County K-9 division after recently receiving his narcotics detection certification.
Ronin and his handler Deputy Roche are the newest members of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office K-9 division and are preparing to attend patrol school this summer, according to the announcement.
“Deputy Roche and K-9 Ronin are excited to begin their work serving and protecting our residents of Weber County,” WCSO said.
K-9s serve in several roles within a sheriff’s office, mainly assisting in detecting narcotics and bombs, as well as assisting in apprehending fugitives. In some cases, K-9s have helped locate missing children or Alzheimer’s patients.
Their role in law enforcement places them in dangerous and sometimes deadly positions. In recent years, several K-9s have died from causes unrelated to their duties, however, other dogs — such as Hondo and Maya — died serving the community.
In 2022, West Jordan K-9 Maya was shot and killed in the line of duty, and a few years earlier, Herriman Police K-9 Hondo was also shot and killed.
Just this year, officials have rolled out a new service designed to transport injured K-9s and other working dogs, such as avalanche dogs and search dogs. Intermountain Life Flight revealed in February a K-9 transport service for dogs injured in the line of duty.
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The program was created with the help of the West Jordan Police Department, who spoke at the news conference about Maya and her role as part of their family and community.
Officer Roche and Ronin will be attending patrol school this summer. The courses are approximately eight weeks long, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.
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