Sheriff’s Office Adds K9 Unit
Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Ellerton and his dog Hati have been trained and certified to serve the department as a K9 drug detection and search team. Hati was trained by Nine Realms Canine Training in Spokane, Wash., and paired with Ellerton at the beginning of March. The pair are certified through American Society of Canine Trainers in narcotics detection and tracking.
RCSO Undersheriff John Summers told the Northern Plains Independent at press time that Ellerton, who has been with the department for two years, is officially on the job with Hait. Ellerton is assigned to patrol on the eastern side of the county, with an emphasis on Culbertson, Fort Kipp, Froid, Bainville and Medicine Lake.
Summers said Ellerton will be helping to assist officers with the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law & Justice and the Montana Highway Patrol when called upon. “Now that he’s got the dog,” said Summers, “he’s going to be busy.”
The last two officers with the department who received ASCT certification were Corey Reum and Clay Mc-Geshick, both of whom have resigned in recent years. Summers said the addition of Hait will enable the department to conduct thorough searches for dangerous drugs and track prisoners who escape from the Fort Peck Tribes Detention Center and other area facilities.
