Bismarck Police Officer Chad Fetzer and his K9 Viper recently received an award from the National Police Canine Association (NPCA) for Detection Catch of the Quarter.
There are two cases for which he received this award. The first was on December 8, 2011. Officer Fetzer responded to a call from an apartment manager who reported a "skunky smell" on one of the floors of the apartment building. Officer Fetzer deployed his K9 Viper and got an "alert" on one
apartment door. A search warrant was obtained and executed. Located inside apartment was a marijuana growing operation with packaged marijuana and numerous articles of drug paraphernalia. Two firearms were also seized from the apartment. A tenant was charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The second search was on December 16, 2011 when Officer Fetzer and Viper were called to check a vehicle for our Regional Drug Task Force. Officer Fetzer conducted a K9 sniff with Viper and he alerted on the front and back door area of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a large amount of Methamphetamine and approximately two ounces of Cocaine. Also seized from the vehicle was $3,800 in cash and a loaded handgun.
Officer Fetzer attended K9 School at Castle K9 in the spring of 2011 and he certified with the National Police Work Dog Association when he left. In August of 2011 he attended a K9 Enhancement Course that was hosted in Bismarck and he certified with National Police Canine Association.
With NPCA the country is divided into seven different regions. The region ND is in includes ND,SD,NE,KS,MN,IA,MO,WI,MI,IN,OH,KE. Further information on NPCA can be found www.npca.net.