Patrol K-9 Team
Sr. Deputy William Rice & K-9 Kass |
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Dates of Service |
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K-9 Kass is a male Belgian Malinois from the Netherlands, born November 28, 2017. The Belgian Malinois is an alert and high-energy breed known for their speed, agility, intelligence and their strong desire to work. Versatile and highly intelligent, the Belgian Malinois excels at a variety of talents, including police work such as, narcotics and bomb detection, protection, and search and rescue.
Kass was acquired from Adlerhorst and was the first K-9 in Yuma County Sheriff’s Office history to be pre-trained in Yuma by the United States Border Patrol Yuma Sector Canine Unit.
Kass has been teamed up with veteran handler Senior Deputy William Rice who has been a K-9 handler for 15 years. Senior Deputy Rice returned to the Canine Center of El Paso at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas with K-9 Kass for six weeks of K-9 training. During their training, the team was put through numerous real world scenarios and challenges that a narcotics detection team may encounter in the field of law enforcement. On June 18, 2021, Kass and Senior Deputy Rice successfully completed the six weeks of K-9 training, receiving their Border Patrol Certification.
Kass and Senior Deputy Rice maintain their narcotics detection certification by attending 16 hours of maintenance training per month administered by Yuma Sector Border Patrol K-9 instructors.
Senior Deputy Rice and Kass are currently assigned to the Patrol Bureau and will continue in their ongoing mission to improve the quality of life for all residents of Yuma County.
About the K-9 Handler
Senior 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 to the K-9 Unit for the Yuma County Detention Center and was partnered with K-9 Paris (Retired April 30, 2014/End of Watch June 20, 2017).
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.
On May 1, 2014, Rice was assigned to the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force and returned to the Canine Center of El Paso with K-9 Jax (Retired December 31, 2020). Jax resides with Rice and is currently enjoying retirement.
On April 1, 2022, Senior Deputy Rice and his K-9 Partner Kass were assigned to the Patrol Bureau’s afternoon Squad A-2.
