Detention K-9 Team
Deputy William Rice & K-9 Paris |
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Dates of Service End of Watch |
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K-9 Officer Paris is a sable and black in color male German Shepherd and was born January 5, 2007. Paris was named after the ancient Athens leader Pericles meaning “Surrounded by Glory” and K-9 Paris has proven to live by his name.
Paris and his handler, Detention Officer William Rice, attended the U.S. Border Patrol K-9 Academy at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas in May 2008. Paris and his handler successfully completed the two-hundred and forty (240) hour course on June 20, 2008 and received the Border Patrol Certification.
Paris and Officer Rice maintained their certification by attending 16 hours of training a month at the U.S. Border Patrol K-9 training facility. In addition, the K-9 team also obtained the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association Certification and successfully completed the certification on a yearly basis. Paris also belongs to the Arizona Law Enforcement Canine Association.
Officer Rice and Paris were assigned to the Yuma County Detention Center. Their mission was to deter and detect the presence of narcotics in the Detention Center, which included Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Heroin. Officer Rice and Paris were also called upon to assist the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau and the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force (YCNTF) with their mission to improve the quality of life for all residents of Yuma County.
In addition to assisting the YCSO Patrol Bureau and YCNTF, K-9 Paris and his handler were also called on to assist numerous agencies within Yuma County to include the Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona State Gang Task Force (G.I.I.T.E.M.), Cocopah Tribal Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, San Luis Police Department, Smuggling Interdiction Group, Somerton Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, and Yuma Police Department.
Deputy William Rice began his career with the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office on November 5, 2007 as a Detention Officer. In 2008, Rice was assigned as the new K-9 Unit for the Yuma County Detention Center and was partnered with K-9 Paris. Rice and Paris attended the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K-9 Academy in El Paso, Texas, receiving their Border Patrol Certification in May 2008.
On May 21, 2010, Rice completed a vigorous nine month Law Enforcement Training Academy at Arizona Western College to become a Certified Peace Officer in the state of Arizona. Deputy Rice and K-9 Paris continued with their mission in seeking narcotic substances in Yuma County until K-9 Paris' retirement in April 2014.
Retirement
On April 30, 2014, K-9 Paris retired after nearly 6 years of dedicated service as a member of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. During his tenure, Paris was responsible for the seizure of 208.6 pounds of Cocaine; 4,929 pounds of Marijuana; 149.2 pounds of Methamphetamine; and $601,958.00 in U.S. currency.
In retirement, Paris continued to reside with his handler, Deputy William Rice and his family. K-9 Paris passed away on June 20, 2017.
Click link for K-9 Unit statistics: Deputy W. Rice & Paris - Statistics
