Community meets Chillicothe's newest furry officer, Rin
The Chillicothe Police Department has a new face on staff - a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois named Rin.
Community meets Chillicothe's newest furry officer, Rin The Chillicothe Police Department has a new face on staff - a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois named Rin. Check out this story on chillicothegazette.com: https://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/2019/06/28/community-meets-chillicothes-newest-furry-officer-rin/1582599001/
Jona Ison, Chillicothe Gazette | Chillicothe | The Chillicothe Gazette Published 11:53 a.m. ET June 28, 2019
Chillicothe junior Corrine Woods pets Chillicothe's new police dog Rin as his partner Officer Shane Simmons holds onto him tightly since it was the first time the two-year-old Belgian Malinois had been around several people at once at the downtown McDonalds on Bridge and Second Streets on June 27, 2019. Woods, through her Little Blessings non-profit organization, helped to raise the $9,000 needed to purchase Rin. (Photo: Robert McGraw/Gazette)
CHILLICOTHE - The Chillicothe Police Department has a new face on staff — a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois named Rin.
Rin and his human partner Officer Shane Simmons recently completed 10 weeks of what Simmons described as extensive, intense training at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy. Rin has been trained to work patrol and detect narcotics alongside the department's other two K9s — Roo and Tobi.
Simmons, 25, has been with the department about three years, following his childhood dream of becoming an officer. Getting Rin as a partner was a secondary part of the dream after he joined the department.
"I figured it'd be nice to have a dog partner around me all the time," Simmons said.
While the pair will continue training 16 hours a month to maintain certification, when at home, Simmons said Rin gets to just be a regular dog.
The department was able to purchase and train Rin through the help of Little Blessing, a nonprofit founded by 16-year-old Corrine Woods. When she heard the department's K9 Koby had to retire due to health reasons, Woods said she offered to help the department get a new dog.
"A lot of times to community needs to keep growing and I want to be there," Woods said of her nonprofit.
Working dogs have been among the primary focus since Little Blessings' inception in 2013. Rin — who was $9,000 — is the second K9 she's helped the Chillicothe police department get. The nonprofit also has purchased various equipment, including safety vests, for the local K9 units.
Baseball style cards with pictures of Roo and Tobi were handed out to those wanting to see Rin and his partner Officer Simmons at the downtown McDonalds Thursday morning. Rin's cards are still in the works to be made. (Photo: Robert McGraw/Gazette)
While Little Blessings, which is operated by a board, conducts fundraisers for various outreach efforts, the purchase of Rin was made possible through various anonymous donations and a grant, she said.
Petland also continues to help the police dogs with food and toys.
While Rin, who was purchased from Vohne Liche Kennels in Indiana, has been on the job for a few weeks now, the community got its first chance to meet him during a Thursday event at McDonald's at Bridge and Second streets.
Local McDonald's owner Ron Fewster said he was happy to sponsor the event for the department which, along with the sheriff's office, also conducts regular Coffee With a Cop meetings at the restaurant. Fewster also donated $1,000 to help purchase equipment for Rin.
"When Chillicothe is as good to you as they have been to me, you want to give back," he said.
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