Officer Nathan Schmuecker and K-9 Drako visit the Washington County Board of Supervisors. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

The Washington County Board of Supervisors had a four-legged visitor at their meeting Tuesday as K-9 officer Drako and officer Nathan Schmuecker stopped by. The supervisors approved a $50 donation to the K-9 fund from Maryann and Merle Pacha. Drako was wearing a new vest and Schmueker explained two women wanted to donate something to the dogs directly and offered to cover the protective Kevlar vests, which are stab and bullet resistant, just like those the officers wear.

Basco is the other K-9 officer for Washington County and the two have been working since last summer. In their first six months on the job they helped recover over $50,000 worth of stolen property and hundreds of grams of drugs, including over 200 grams of methamphetamine, 800 grams of marijuana and 2.5 grams of heroine.