Union County community members raised concerns when they learned the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) K9, ICE, was being temporarily housed at the Union County Animal Shelter due to unforeseen circumstances.

Today, Union County Sheriff Jeff Adams provided the following statement, shedding additional light on the situation and reassuring the community ICE is a major priority of the department. 

“As of April 25, K9 ICE has been repurposed with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. As some of you know, this has been an ongoing process with  K9 ICE.  The Union County Sheriff’s Office has been in negotiations with three other agencies.  The first negotiations were that K9 ICE and his handler would transfer to another department. The deputy withdrew from that department’s process and chose another career path.   

That, in turn, canceled the deal with that department, and the officer left UCSO shortly after.  We were then assured by the County Kennel supervisor that K9 ICE  would be kept in a secured kennel and that keeping K9 ICE out there for a short period would be no issue.  They would assist in watering and feeding him, and he would be in a run where he could also go outside.  We were in negotiations with a second agency at this time.  After approximately four to five days, this agency decided to go a different route in their K9 selection.  We then went into negotiations with a third agency, which is Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

They decided that they would purchase K9 ICE.  

During this process, we contacted previous instructors from the kennel in which ICE, several other K9S in this area, and our previous two K9S for our department were purchased.   We asked them if they saw any problem with Ice’s environment and if they thought there would be any psychological damage or loss of ability in his performance.  They both stated no and that he, being a trained police K9, would pick right back up where he left off. Additionally, they both said when they send these police dogs to the Hawaii police department, they are in quarantine for up to 90 days.  

These are not your everyday pets and cannot be handled as such.  If the handler is with the K9 and gives you permission to pet and play with the K9, that is one thing, but opening the kennel or a police cruiser door is not recommended.  If that were the case, there would probably be more police K9 stolen across America, and the departments would be out about $20,000.  

Major Dishmond told me that both of his K9s were protective of their kennels and the police cruiser and you could NOT just go and open either.  Do the families build a rapport with the K9? Yes, and in time, that trust is built.  Do some handlers keep their K9s inside with them? Yes.  Is there any difference between a K9 kept inside and one kept outside? No?  Both do an amazing job and are very capable of protecting and serving; it is the officer’s discretion. 

K9 Ice is an amazing police dog and will do great things for the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. We wish them nothing but success with him. We truly appreciate everyone’s concerns for ICE, as it is ours as well and has always been.” 

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office is thrilled to have K9 ICE as a part of its team and shared, “Fayette County Sheriff Zac Jones and Union County Sheriff Jeff Adams finalized the transfer of Union County’s K9 Ice. Through cooperation and a great work relationship, the two departments have come to an agreement that benefits both departments as well as both communities. Deputy Jake Lunsford will be Ice’s new handler for Fayette County and will attend Von Liche K9 Academy for training in June. In the meantime, Ice and Deputy Lunsford will use this time for the handler/k9 bonding.”

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office will update K9 Ice’s and Deputy Lunsford’s progress in the upcoming weeks. Follow the Fayette County Indiana Sheriff’s Office on Facebook for updates.