Eureka's Police Department dog, Riki, is retiring after 10 years of service to the Eureka community. He was imported from Hungary.

Eureka police and canine officer Mike Werges selected Reno to replace Riki. He will bring Reno to his new home in Eureka today, Sept. 11. Reno is a German Shepherd from the country of Slavokia.

Police dogs are used to enforce public order by chasing and holding suspects, or detaining suspects by the threat of being released, either by direct apprehension or a method known as "Bark and Hold."

Werges and Riki attended the St Louis Metropolitan Police Canine School, at which they trained in obedience, agility, article search, suspect search and apprehension. Riki is good with drug detections, as evidenced at school assemblies and Girl Scouts troop meetings.

Some police dogs also assist with bomb and weapon detection, as well as missing persons or cadaver searches.

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Werges and Riki will be at the Eureka Hills Branch Library on Sept. 30 for story times at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to talk about safety. Stories and activities for reading time are recommended for ages 3 to 6 years old, but all ages are welcome.

The Eureka Police Department Canine Unit was formed in 1993. In May 2004, Eureka police officer Mike McColl retired the department’s previous canine, Aur. McColl had been the department’s canine officer since August 1993.