McLeod County Sheriff’s Office adds second K9 to strengthen coverage

Published on March 2, 2026

The McLeod County Sheriff’s Office is expanding its K9 program with the addition of a new police dog, a move officials say will help ensure consistent coverage and faster response to high-risk calls across the county.
Sheriff Tim Langenfeld said the department intentionally staggers its K9 program to maintain uninterrupted service. A police dog typically serves eight to 10 years, and the office brings in a new dog around the midpoint of a current K9’s career.
“This allows adequate time for training and certification so the new K9 is fully operational prior to the retirement of the senior dog,” Langenfeld said.
The county’s current K9, Archie, will continue working alongside the new dog, Rico, once Rico completes training and certification. Langenfeld said the two dogs will complement one another and strengthen the department’s ability to respond.
“With only one K9, availability can be limited due to schedules, training days, and vacations,” he said. “By adding K9 Rico, there will be a greater likelihood of a K9 available on most shifts. This will allow quicker response to high-risk calls.”
Rico was obtained through Performance Kennels, a company that specializes in importing and developing working dogs for law enforcement agencies. The organization evaluates potential dogs and matches them to handlers based on temperament, working style, and the needs of the department.
As part of that process, representatives met with Rico’s assigned handler, Deputy Micah Moyer, to assess the home environment, family situation, and operational demands before selecting the dog.
The cost of adding the K9 is expected to exceed $20,000. Langenfeld said the initial purchase price for Rico was about $13,000, with another $7,500 required for training. The department received a $7,500 grant from AKC Reunite in 2025 to help offset some of the expense.