McLeod County Sheriff's Office Adds Second K-9, Rico, to Patrol This Summer

Sheriff Tim Langenfeld announced March 2, 2026 that the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office is expanding its K-9 program with the addition of a second police dog, Rico, which officials say will help ensure consistent coverage and faster response to high-risk calls across the county. Rico, obtained through Performance Kennels, is scheduled to complete training and certification and begin patrolling this summer.

Langenfeld framed the move as part of a deliberate staffing strategy: “A police dog typically serves eight to 10 years, and the office brings in a new dog around the midpoint of a current K9’s career,” Sheriff Tim Langenfeld said. He added, “This allows adequate time for training and certification so the new K9 is fully operational prior to the retirement of the senior dog.”

The courthouse release and local coverage state Rico was sourced from Performance Kennels of Buffalo, a company that evaluates potential dogs and matches them to handlers based on temperament, working style, and the needs of the department. “I go over there and select (the dog). A friend of mine is a dog guy there,” Steve Pearson said of his selection process. Pearson, who founded Performance Kennels after a long law enforcement career, said he aims to pick dogs that fit the handler and department: “I try to pick a dog that … would suit the handler and the department best.”

Rico’s arrival is explicitly tied to operational availability. “With only one K9, availability can be limited due to schedules, training days, and vacations,” Langenfeld said, and he pointed to immediate benefits: “By adding K9 Rico, there will be a greater likelihood of a K9 available on most shifts. This will allow quicker response to high-risk calls.”

Rico will join Archie in the county’s K-9 unit once training and certification are complete. Archie, the current K-9, was born in Slovakia on 2/14/21 and became a member of the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office on 3/7/22. Archie is a cross between a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois; Deputy Jonathan Robbin is Archie’s handler. “Deputy Robbin and Archie are certified in narcotics detection and patrol through the United States Police Canine Association,” the county K-9 page states, and the county notes the family of Deb Schott donated funds in her memory and assisted with naming Archie.

The county’s K-9 history includes K-9 Kilo, who served for over eight years with the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office; Kilo’s handler was Sergeant Brian Stiles, and Kilo has retired to live with his family while Stiles remains on duty. Past coordination with Performance Kennels dates to earlier K-9 procurement efforts and established practices of overseas selection and temperament screening.

The department has not released Rico’s breed, age, handler assignment, certification body, or funding source. For now the timeline is clear: Rico will finish training and certification and, barring delays, start patrol duties in summer 2026 to bolster shift coverage and reduce response times on high-risk calls.