The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has a new K-9 officer.

The sheriff’s office took possession of Rento, a 15-month-old Dutch Shepherd in November.

Rento’s handler is Lt. Jarad McFalls, who works as a criminal interdiction officer. McFalls lost his former K-9, Kimbo, in August to cancer.

Rento is also available to assist all divisions of the sheriff’s office as well as any other law enforcement agency upon request.

McFalls said the time without a partner has been really rough and finding another dog is like replacing a child. He said Kimbo was part of his family.

Rento was obtained through the same kennel in Pennsylvania where the sheriff’s office found Kimbo, Shallow Creek Kennels. Shallow Creek Kennels is known throughout the United States and world for producing and training K9s for police service and the military, according to the sheriff’s office. McFalls, an experienced K-9 handler, spent two weeks at Shallow Creek Kennels completing an acclamation period with Rento.

Kimbo worked for the sheriff’s office with McFalls for almost five years.

Although Rento is young and is still learning the job, he is currently conducting narcotic searches, and he knows how to do building searches and tracking, as he is a full patrol dog, certified in the disciplines of tracking, drug detection and apprehension.

Rento was purchased with donations provided from Polk residents following the loss of Kimbo.

The sheriff’s office says Rento has already been successful in the arrests associated with the seizures of contraband, including methamphetamine and marijuana.