Eureka Police Department officers announced police service dog Riki is officially retired now. 

Riki is a German Shepherd, and has served Eureka citizens since 2004. Riki is the department's third Police K-9 to retire. The Eureka Police Department Canine Unit was formed in 1993.

Riki has assisted local, state and federal agencies with many assignments over the course of his eight-year career with the department. His partner, Eureka Officer Mike Werges, said Riki has participated in hundreds of calls for service and located hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of illegal drugs. 

Werges and Riki have traveled throughout Missouri to assist police departments, including going to Joplin in May 2011 to assist immediately following the devastating tornado that struck the city. 

This team received many awards over the course of the last eight years. 

Riki was selected as the German Shepherd Dog Club of St. Louis Top Police Dog in the area of evidence detection in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009; narcotics detection in 2011; and Handler Protection in 2008 and 2009.

Riki also received a Find of the Quarter award from the U.S. Police K-9 Association in 2005.

Werges was named as the North American Police Work Dog Association Member of the Year in 2011. He began training a new partner last month, as reported by Eureka-Wildwood Patch:  K-9 "Reno" was purchased from Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, PA. Reno now is actively serving the Eureka community.

Riki now is living with a Wildwood family.

"The Eureka Police Department would like to thank everyone who has supported the K-9 program over the course of the last 20 years," said Eureka Police Department Chief Michael Wiegand.

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