After suddenly losing K9 Trixie earlier this year, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has a new K9 officer ready for duty.

Ike is a 16-month old German Shepherd who graduated on Aug. 16 from the North American Police Work Dog Association after a five-week certification course. He began working with the sheriff’s office on Aug. 21.

K9 officer Ronnie Russell said community donations and funding from the Polk County Board of Commissioners made purchasing Ike possible.

Russell was also the handler for Trixie, a 10-year old German Shepherd who died suddenly of cancer on March 15 after working the night before.

“The community and county commissioners did a lot to help us get Ike,” Russell said, “I think he’s going to be a great asset to the county.”

The sheriff’s office purchased Ike through K2 Solutions in Jackson Springs, N.C., a disabled veteran-owned business, who also trained Trixie.

The sheriff’s office, Polk County Board of Commissioners and donations from the community paid $11,500 for Ike. Commissioners contributed $6,500, along with more than $2,000 raised from the community. The remaining monies were taken from the sheriff’s office drug seizure fund.

“The sheriff’s office would like to thank countless citizens who donated funds for Ike and also Polk County commissioners for their support in acquiring funds for Ike,” said Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill.

Ike is trained in narcotics, tracking, building searches, article and area searches and criminal apprehension. Sheriff Hill said Ike has already been instrumental in recent drug arrests.