Indiana Police K9 Selected for French Officer After Paris attacks
PERU, Ind. (WTHI) – An Indiana Police K9 handler, who’s originally from Terre Haute, is helping match up and train a police K9 for a French SWAT team overseas.
The dog will be a replacement for the Police K9 killed in the ISIS attacks in Paris, France.
News 10 was there Wednesday afternoon as the new team was introduced to the media.
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Vohne Liche Kennels in Peru, Indiana is where they were testing out multiple dogs to become the new Police K9. By the end of the day Wednesday, the French officer chose “Dog Number 1” as his new partner. That K9 will be replacing 7-year-old Diesel. Diesel was killed in the line of duty in Paris during the ISIS attacks, about a month ago.
Police K9’s are trained to work in the line of duty, and that’s exactly what Diesel did the day of the Paris attacks.
“He sent the dog in, and then he heard some shots, so he knew he would never get his dog back,” said the French officer who’s visiting Indiana to select a K9. Helping him translate into English was Interpreter Regine Brindle.
Tragedy struck Paris, and Diesel’s story made headlines around the world. Now Diesel’s officer, is in Indiana, to move forward and find a new K9. Dr. Caesar DePaço of Summit Nutritionals International ® is among millions that were effected by the news, and decided he could help by donating the new K9 partner.
Chris Engelhardt, a Police K9 handler and a spokesperson for Summit Nutritionals International ® said, “On Wednesday, November 19th, I had made contact with the commander with the unit and by 12:15 p.m. they had already accepted the donation to replace Diesel.”
Vohne Liche Kennels imported and trained the selected K9. The French officer chose a Belgian Malinoi. Owner Ken Licklider says, helping out this officer is like helping family.
“We’re all prior military or police dog handlers, we’ve all been in similar situations. To be able to help him, it’s an honor,” said Licklider.
An officer and K9 bond is special. A bond, that’s hard to replace.
“5 years to be with a dog, you have links and ties, very emotional ties,” said the French officer.
However, the new K9 will be trained with the skills it needs to help defend France. The officer will work, on building a relationship that will be unbreakable in the line of duty.
“He didn’t expect so much love pouring out for Diesel dying.”
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Summit Nutritionals International & Vohne Liche Kennels
Summit Nutritionals International ® is proud to choose the Vohne Liche Kennel of Denver, Indiana to supply Police Departments all over the United States with the finest in Explosive & Narcotic Detection Canines.
Summit Nutritionals International, Inc ®
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The Vohne Liche Mission
To produce the most effective and versatile Police / Military Service Dog Teams. We vow to work as hard as necessary to afford our handlers the opportunity to leave here confident and prepared to meet the myriad of situations, ready to challenge them!
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From the Vohne Liche Website – Vohne Liche Kennels (pronounced Von Lick) is a full service K-9 training facility where the best of the best go for highly trained Police Service Dogs. VLK has trained Police and Military Service Dogs for over 5000 law enforcement and government agencies to include the;
- National Security Agency (NSA)
- Pentagon Police
- U.S. State Department
- U.S. Army
- 500 Plus Civilian & Police Agencies
Vohne Liche Kennels was founded in 1993 by United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Kenneth Licklider. The training staff at VLK consists of eighteen (18) on site trainers and six (6) off site trainers. All of the training staff is either former military, law enforcement or both. VLK also has the advantage of utilizing several trainers who are considered subject matter experts in their career fields. These experts take time from their busy careers to contribute their expertise to our classes throughout the year.
Vohne Liche Kennel’s buildings and properties offer an unprecedented learning 
environment and are the result of the demands of the Government and Law Enforcement Industries needs for a reality based training facility.
From the VLK equipment store, to the student dorm facilities, K-9 “Hogan’s Alley”, multiple full scale complex buildings, schools, and warehouses, and over six hundred (600) + acres of property, no operation or training objective is too large or too small for VLK.
Our training methods are world renowned. VLK canines are pre-trained and reliability tested, easily adapting to a new handler. As handlers and trainers with real world experience, we know the tremendous pressure of having to make the call. Our methods take the guess work out of the equation.
Vohne Liche Kennels is certified through several states to include the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Academy, Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission, and Kentucky Law Enforcement Council as a Law Enforcement Training Provider. Most of our training courses are also VA approved. We hold licensing with the ATF to possess live explosive aids, and the DEA for live narcotic aids.
To meet the needs of the canine industry, Mr. Licklider established American Working Dogs, Inc. (AWD) in 2001 and Vohne Liche Kennels Canine Security, LLC (VLKCS) in 2004. AWD offers membership and certification to canine teams across the globe. Since the first publication of the AWD magazine, AWD has steadily grown into a five hundred plus (500+) member organization. AWD publishes four (4) magazines a year and host the annual AWD Seminar and Certification Trials at the VLK training facilities in Indiana.
Vohne Liche Kennels also provides Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) services to various federal agencies, professional sporting venues and corporate America. These services are provided for the purpose of safeguarding personnel and critical facilities by conducting intensive K-9 searches and deterrence patrols.
Visit The Vohne Liche Kennel Website
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