K-9 Teams

ACTIVE K-9 TEAMS

Man kneeling in snow with a happy German Shepherd, outdoors with Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 Ace Brandon Christianson

In December 2015 Sergeant Brandon Christianson was selected to be the next member of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit.

Sergeant Christianson visited Vohne Liche Kennels, located in Denver, Indiana, and selected Ace to become the Department's sixth working K9. Ace was born in March 2014 in Europe and came to the United States in 2015 for continued training. Ace is a male Belgian Shepherd whose birth name was Aladin.

Ace began his tour of duty with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department in early 2016. Ace is a dual-purpose K9 trained in both patrol and detection. Specifically, his areas of training include narcotics detection, article recovery, missing person and area searches, tracking, apprehension work and handler protection.

Sergeant Christianson and Ace have conducted many community presentations for various schools and organizations and have more than 600 patrol deployments assisting in hundreds of drug arrests, locating both fleeing suspects and missing persons, and clearing buildings and areas.

In December 2020, Ace and Sergeant Christianson received the prestigious awards of “Handler of the Year” and “Meritorious Track with Apprehension” by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association (WLECHA). These awards were a great honor for Sergeant Christianson and show the dedication he has for continued training for both himself and Ace so they are best able to protect the citizens of our community.

Prior to joining the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Sergeant Christianson held various law enforcement positions with the Rome, Nekoosa and Grand Rapids Police Departments. Since joining the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Sergeant Christianson has been involved in many areas of the Department including the Special Response Team, Boat Patrol Officer, Shift Commander, Emergency Vehicle and Operation Instructor, Vehicle Contacts Instructor, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor, Less Lethal Instructor, Honor Guard Member, and Preliminary Breath Test Calibrator.

A police officer for Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin stands in a forest with a K9 dog.

K-9 Sig James Pidgeon

James Pidgeon has been active in the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit since 2013 when he was assigned his first K9 Partner, Toro...

(see below for more information on Toro). Deputy Pidgeon began his law enforcement career with the Department in 2009.

In early 2020, Deputy Pidgeon visited Jessiffany Kennels, located in Iron Ridge, WI and selected Sig, a sable German Shepherd, as his second K9 partner and the Department’s seventh working K9. Sig was born in 2018 in the Czech Republic and arrived in the Unites States in 2019 to finish his training at Jessiffany Kennels. Sig is a dual-purpose K9 and he and Deputy Pidgeon have completed extensive training in narcotics detection, obedience, agility, article recovery, area searches, missing persons tracking, apprehension work, and handler protection.

In the short time they have been working together, Deputy Pidgeon and Sig have successfully conducted many narcotics detections, area and missing persons searches and public demonstrations for school classes, businesses, and organizations in the community. Sig was funded by the generosity of the Wisconsin River Valley Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited.

In addition to his role as a K9 Handler, Deputy Pidgeon serves as the Wood County Sheriff’s Department Armorer and Range Instructor and has also been a member of the Special Response Team.

Deputy Pidgeon is extremely enthusiastic about his role in the K9 Unit and he and Sig train continually to learn new skills and to sharpen their existing training. Deputy Pidgeon is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others and with the help of his K9 partner, Deputy Pidgeon can best protect and serve the people of Wood County.

Smiling police officer with a happy police dog, supported by Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 Timo Justus Arendt

Justus Arendt’s law enforcement career began with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department in 2016 and in 2020 he was selected...

as the next K9 handler. In addition to being part of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit, Sergeant Arendt is also a member of the Special Response Team, a Field Training Officer, Reserve Deputy Program Liaison, Honor Guard member, TraCS Administrator and was recently promoted to Patrol Sergeant.

Sergeant Arendt and other members of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department visited Jessiffany Kennels, located in Iron Ridge, WI in July 2020 and selected Timo (pronounced Tee-Mo) as the Department’s eighth working K9.

Timo, a male Belgian Malinois, was born in 2018 in the Netherlands and arrived in the United States in 2020 to finish his training at Jessiffany Kennels. Timo is the most recent Belgian Malinois in the Wood County Sheriff’s Department since K9 Friday, who retired in 2009. Timo translated from Dutch to English means In God's Honor.

Timo began his tour of duty with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department in October 2020 is a dual-purpose K9. Timo is trained in detection and patrol work; specifically, narcotics detection, tracking / open area searches, article recovery, missing person and building searches, handler protection and apprehension work.

Although new to the department, K9 Timo and Sergeant Arendt have already had many successful patrol deployments including a notable arrest that removed a substantial amount of narcotics and an illegal firearm from the streets of our community.

Timo and Sergeant Arendt continue to train monthly with a multi-agency K9 training group as well as on duty training practicing the many skills Timo possesses. Timo and Sergeant Arendt have attended training conferences hosted by Jessiffany Kennels and the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association. They have also completed SKIDDS Training (SWAT and K9s Interacting During Deployment School) as well as CATS Training (Canine Tactical School).

Prior to his time with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Sergeant Arendt held law enforcement positions with the Grand Rapids and City of Nekoosa police departments.

Sergeant Arendt and Timo seek opportunities to constantly grow their skills as a K9 team so they can provide the best possible services to the citizens of Wood County.

Smiling police officer with a German Shepherd stands by an SUV, Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 Rosco Kristine Beathard

In 2021 Wood County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kristine Beathard was selected as the newest K9 handler. Deputy Beathard began...

her career with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department in 2010 and since then has been working toward a career goal of joining the K9 Unit.

Deputy Beathard’s partner is dual-purpose K9 named Rosco. Rosco, a male Belgian Malinois, was born in Europe in 2019 and is the Department’s ninth working K9. Rosco arrived in the United States in 2020 and continued his training with Jessiffany Kennels, located in Iron Ridge, WI.

Rosco began his tour of duty with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department in May of 2021 and is trained in the detection of illegal substances and apprehension of dangerous people suspected of crimes. Rosco is also trained in tracking fleeing suspects and missing and endangered persons, open area and building searches, article recovery and handler protection.

Rosco is an extremely strong and fast fur missile who loves his job; he is a great partner and provides protection for his handler at all times. While off duty, Rosco enjoys relaxing in his state-of-the-art kennel that was made possible by extremely generous community donations.

Deputy Beathard is dedicated to drug enforcement and the safety of the citizens of Wood County and in the short time since she and Rosco began their patrol together, they have multiple arrests and have successfully removed illegal narcotics from our community streets. Deputy Beathard and Rosco also enjoy interacting with the public and participating in presentations and demonstrations to further develop an understanding and appreciation for the K9 teams in our community. This type of community outreach also provides an avenue for an introduction of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department to many area children in a fun and encouraging environment.

Deputy Beathard and Rosco formally train every month and they strive to demonstrate the strong commitment the Wood County Sheriff’s Department has to protecting and serving the citizens of Wood County.

RETIRED K-9 TEAMS

A police officer and K9 pose together, supported by Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 RICO Ray Starks

Although Deputy Harold Wilkens and his partner Gus, a Bloodhound, were the first K9 team in Wood County back in...

the 1960s, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit was officially formed in 1994 with the purchase of a dual-purpose K9 named Rico. The Grand Rapids Lion club spearheaded fundraising efforts to raise funds for the K9, officer training and squad car modifications.

Rico was a male Belgian Malinois, which like German Shepherds have incredible tracking, apprehension, and detection skills. Deputy Ray Starks was the first K9 Handler for the then newly created Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit.

Rico was born in Holland and imported to North Carolina at approximately 2 years old to finish his training at Southern Police Canine located in Spring Hope, North Carolina. After completing his formal training, Rico then spent an additional six weeks training with Deputy Starks in disciplines that included tracking, apprehension, narcotics detection and handler protection at the Southern Police Canine facility.

Deputy Starks began his career with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department in 1989 and held numerous different positions during his 22 years of service to the Department including Special Response Team member, Shift Commander, Field Training Officer, and County Tribal Law Enforcement Liaison and Grant Administrator.

Rico and Deputy Starks were recognized twice by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handler’s Association for Meritorious Find of the Year for finding a firearm used in a serious crime and for Meritorious Track of the Year for finding an escaped felon.

Deputy Starks and Rico were instrumental in the development of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 program. Starks also began the Rico’s Pack program to promote positive decision making and to introduce children to law enforcement at an early age so they could recognize officers as friendly faces. Trading style cards were created to hand out to children at the many presentations Rico and Deputy Starks did throughout Wood County.

Additionally, this original K9 team assisted in countless search warrants, brought many perpetrators to justice, served to locate lost individuals, and started the community liaison program to familiarize the citizens of Wood County with the many benefits of the K9 Unit.

Rico dutifully protected his partner from dangerous criminals and made the streets of Wood County a safer place. Unfortunately, Rico was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and with Rico’s End of Watch (EOW) far too soon in January of 2000, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and the entire community suffered the loss of a dedicated, trusted and extremely valued “shining star”.

Smiling police officer and German Shepherd pose for the Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 Friday Ray Starks

The Wood County Sheriff's Department recognized the success and impact Rico and the K9 unit had on the community and...

and after Rico’s untimely death, a second working K9 was purchased in 2000.

Friday, a male Belgian Malinois, and Ray Starks became the Wood County Sheriff’s Department second K9 team. Friday had a long and distinguished career apprehending criminals, assisting with lost person cases, and building goodwill throughout the community.

Friday served the community until 2008 when he retired and spent his remaining time living comfortably with Deputy Starks and his family until his EOW in 2009.

Police officer kneels beside German Shepherd, supporting Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 Kilo Joe Zurfluh

Kilo, the Wood County Sheriff’s Department third K9 officer, began his tour of duty with the K9 Unit in 2008. Deputy Joe...

Zurfluh began his full-time career with the Wood County Sheriff's Department in March of 2005 and in early 2008 was promoted to the K9 Unit as Kilo’s Handler.

Before joining the Sheriff’s Department Deputy Zurfluh worked for the Pittsville Police Department and also spent 3 years in the US Army within the Military Police. He was deployed twice during his military career, having tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq. Since joining the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, Zurfluh has held positions of Special Response Team member, Field Training Officer, Boat Patrol Officer, Shift Commander, Evidence Technician, Investigator Sergeant and Lieutenant of the Investigative Division.

Kilo, a male Belgian Malinois, was born in Europe and like Friday and Rico, finished his training at Southern Police Canine in North Carolina after arriving in the United States. Kilo had a very energetic personality; he was eager to work and train and always had fun doing both. Deputy Zurfluh and Kilo are credited with many successful patrol deployments assisting with drug arrests, locating both fleeing suspects and missing persons, and continued goodwill development through K9 seminars and presentations within the community.

Kilo was an excellent partner and K9 officer and dutifully served the community. The Wood County Sheriff’s Department suffered a tragic loss when Kilo was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Kilo’s EOW came far too soon in 2010 and the Department was heartbroken over his untimely passing. The K9 team of Kilo and Deputy Zurfluh will always be remembered within the Wood County Sheriff’s Department for their extreme dedication and commitment to not only citizens of the community but also their fellow officers.

Police officer with K9 partner poses by a wooden fence, Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 Toro James Pidgeon

Toro, the fourth working K9 at the Wood County Sheriff’s Department was a large friendly, yet fierce, male German Shepherd.

Toro began his tour of duty with the Department in 2010. Toro was a dual-purpose K9 trained in detection and apprehension. Specifically he was trained in detection of narcotics and tracking of missing person and fleeing suspects, building and open area searches, apprehension work and handler protection.

Deputy Joe Zurfluh was Toro’s original partner and together they continued to grow the Wood County K9 program through community presentations and patrol assists to remove narcotics from the streets of our community. When Deputy Zurfluh decided to pursue other opportunities within the Wood County Sheriff’s Department, James Pidgeon was elected as Toro’s new partner and the next K9 Handler.

Deputy James Pidgeon began his career with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department in 2009. He was promoted to the K9 Unit in 2010 and has been a member of the Special Response Team and serves as the Department’s Armorer and Range Instructor.

Toro and Deputy Pigeon continued to protect and serve Wood County with many drug arrests, building searches and missing person cases. Deputy Pidgeon and Toro also worked diligently to educate the citizens of Wood County on the many benefits of the Department’s K9 Unit until his retirement in 2019.

After his retirement in 2019, Toro lived happily with Deputy Pidgeon and his family until his EOW in 2021. Toro had a long and distinguished career with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and he was loved by many throughout the community.

Smiling officer kneels beside a German Shepherd, representing Acacia Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

K-9 Rex Andy Simon

The Wood County Sheriff’s Department fifth working K9 was a large, energetic German Shepherd named Rex. Deputy Andrew...

Simon and Rex had previously worked for The Grand Rapids Police Department before transitioning to the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 Unit in early 2012.

Rex was a dual-purpose police K9 trained in detection of illegal substances and handler protection. Specifically, Rex was trained in detection of narcotics, tracking of fleeing suspects and missing and endangered citizens, building and area searches, article recovery, apprehension, and handler protection.

Rex and Deputy Simon were a key part of many patrol deployments that led to drug arrests and the location of dangerous suspects as well as missing adults and children.

Rex was always ready and willing to work and was a great ambassador in the community for the Department’s K9 Unit. Deputy Simon and Rex attended many presentations at schools and organizations throughout Wood County and Rex was cherished by many members of the community as well as everyone at the Wood County Sheriff’s Department.

Rex retired in 2015 after a successful career in the K9 unit. Rex enjoyed his retirement living a relaxing and happy life with Deputy Simon and his wife until his EOW in 2021.

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K-9 Unit History Wood County Sheriff’s Department

The Wood County Sheriff’s Department officially launched the K9 Unit in 1994 with the purchase of Rico. The K9 program developed over time with the instrumental help of Deputy Ray Starks and the first two department K9s – Rico and Friday. The Lions Club of Grand Rapids spearheaded the original fundraising efforts for the purchase of Rico and without their extreme commitment and dedication, Wood County would not have the K9 program it has today. Many individuals and organizations continued to donate to the K9 fund to help with the purchase of the second and third K9s, Friday and Kilo.

The use of law enforcement K9s within the Wood County Sheriff’s Department had become an essential part of the operations. However, it was clear that a financial sustainability plan needed to be formulated to ensure the longevity of the K9 program. In 2007, the Wisconsin Rapids Masonic Lodge partnered with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department to spearhead this long-term sustainability plan. The Acacia Foundation was established as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) to raise awareness of the K9 program throughout the community and continually raise funds to allow for the growth and health of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 program far into the future.

Below are articles spotlighting some of the important milestones, achievements, and historical highlights of the Wood County Sheriff’s Department K9 program.