Versailles: The Versailles District recently acquired a new K-9. On January 15 Senior Trooper Chris Richey and his new partner, Rayner completed three months of training in Indianapolis. Rayner is a 20 month old, dual purpose German Shepherd trained in detecting the odors of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, and crack cocaine. He is also trained in tracking, area searches, building searches, and evidence searches as well as handler protection.
For that last several years ISP K-9 handlers have been naming their partners in memory of fallen Indiana troopers. S/Tpr. Richey approached Rheadawn Rayner-Metz of Greensburg, the widow of Tpr. William R. Rayner of Versailles District who was killed in the line of duty on December 18, 1966 about naming his new partner after Tpr. Rayner. Mrs. Metz and her family were honored and welcomed the idea.
S/Tpr. Richey, a 12 year veteran of the Indiana State Police has been involved in ISP’s K-9 program for nearly seven years. His first partner, Heiko retired last fall after working with Richey for six years. According to S/Tpr. Richey, Rayner was obtained through grants and donations from Honda of Indiana, the Dearborn County Regional Foundation, Dearborn County CASA, Ripley County Local Coordinating Council, and the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office. No taxpayer dollars were spent on Rayner. In fact, since the inception of ISP’s K-9 program no taxpayer dollars have been spent on any part of the K-9 program. Grants and donations cover the cost of the dogs, food, veterinary care, training, and kennels. It is because of the generosity of these organizations and citizens the Indiana State Police K-9 program has been so successful.
In addition to the Indiana State Police K-9 training officers, S/Tpr. Richey also wanted to express his appreciation to Lawrenceburg Police K-9 Officer Jacob Jump who provided a great deal of Rayner’s training in narcotics detection.
Over the years the Indiana State Police K-9 program has been directly responsible for the recovery of thousands of pounds of drugs, the apprehension of hundreds of criminal suspects, the location of numerous items of evidence in crimes, and the location and recovery of lost children and adults alike.
