In 2016, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department, with the assistance of local citizens and businesses acquired a dual purpose K9 – Zaki, who has become a valuable part of the department. Zaki has had two handlers already, former Deputy Chris Mueller and current Deputy, Nicholas Leadbetter, and Zaki has become a valued part of the department. Sheriff Steve Cox, as part of the annual review of the department, looked at how Zaki is utilized.
In 2019, Cox says with the assistance of Zaki, the department has seized Methamphetamine, Marijuana, THC Oil, Hallucinogenic Mushrooms, Controlled Medication, PCP, Cocaine and Ecstasy with a total street value of $27,527 dollars.
During the investigations Zaki has been involved in, Cox says the department has made 110 arrests, seized cash totaling nearly $5,000, recovered 4 stolen vehicles, recovered 13 firearms and three other weapons and recovered more than 410 other stolen items.
Zaki has participated in 20 trackings, 14 building searches, 116 drug investigations and participated in 41 community service events.
Zaki has had 13 suspects surrender to him, he has been part of securing the perimeter of a scene 21 times, has helped with one federal warrant and participated in networking six times.
Zaki has not only served the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department but has been requested and been able to assist with other agencies, including the Chillicothe Police Department, Missouri Highway Patrol, Caldwell, Carroll, Daviess, Linn and Mercer Counties and several of the neighboring police department.
Sheriff Cox says Zaki and Deputy Leadbetter were available for service 341 days in 2019, service locally and around the area.
