The K-9 program for the Sheriff's Office was re-implemented in 1989.
The Richland County Sheriff's Office has 2 K-9's - Turbo and Jax. Turbo is a German Shepherd and Jax is a Shepherd-Malinois mix.
Some of the certifications required are Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (O.P.O.T.A.). For both narcotics and patrol with recertification's required every two years. There is also a yearly certification through the United States Police Canine Association (U.S.P.C.A.) for patrol dog and narcotics, which is voluntary.
The Sheriff's Office has hosted a National Patrol Dog and Narcotics Certification sessions along with hosting two regional trials.
The K-9 Unit's responsibilities include searching for missing persons, and criminal offenders attempting to evade capture, along with detection of narcotics. The K-9 team is also used in many public demonstrations to include the D.A.R.E. Program.