“Rev” began his career in public service after being acquired from K-9 Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2020. Rev was initially acquired by the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group-Drug Unit (LWAM) which is a multijurisdictional drug task force comprised of 15 participating law enforcement agencies. Rev assists LWAM with drug trafficking investigations throughout Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Calumet Counties with an emphasis on disrupting and/or dismantling drug trafficking organizations negatively impacting communities in Northeast Wisconsin.
Rev, a 5-year-old black lab, is a single purpose Narcotics Detection Canine trained to detect the odor of specific controlled substances. Rev and his handler completed their initial training and certification through K-9 Services and immediately went to work assisting local law enforcement agencies and drug task force operations. Since Rev was acquired in 2020, Rev has been deployed on multiple occasions and has played a crucial role in many large-scale drug seizures including hundreds of pounds of illegal controlled substances as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit currency attributed to drug trafficking.
In early 2023, a special agent from the Division of Criminal Investigation was selected to be Rev’s handler in cooperation with LWAM. Rev and his handler continue to conduct daily training and annual recertifications, routinely assisting with narcotics investigations of statewide importance as well as facilitating assistance to local law enforcement agencies and drug task forces. When Rev is off-duty, he spends his time relaxing and playing fetch at home with his handler.
Did you know?
Labrador Retrievers were originally called St. John’s dogs. The Labrador breed dates back to at least the 1830s, when St. John's water dogs bred by European settlers in Newfoundland were first introduced to Britain from ships trading between Canada and Poole in Dorset. These were then bred with British hunting dogs to create what became known as the Labrador Retriever.
Labrador Retrievers are known for their love of water and have a double coat to protect from cold water. If you look closely at a Labrador Retriever’s paws, you will notice they are webbed which contributes to the breed being known for being great swimmers. In 1917 the American Kennel Club declared the Labrador Retriever a recognized breed. Labrador Retriever’s are the most popular breed for a family pet in the United States.