New County Assessor Tony Vigen introduced

By Robert Williams

Editor

“They’ve done some amazing feats,” Sheriff Todd Glander said. “They never give up; it’s pretty amazing.”

Glander cited numerous instances of K9 Cooper and his handler Cody Bouchie tracking down felons on the run around the region.

“This team is known pretty much in the northwest region of Minnesota; they were called to assist the FBI and BCA for the search of a murder suspect in Red Lake County. This guy was in the woods and swamps and he evaded law enforcement for several days. It’s an honor for our office to be called because of this team.”

K9 Cooper will be retiring at the end of 2023.

“He’s going to be missed,” said Glander.

Bouchie gave a full report on his partner and the work they have accomplished together.

“K9 Cooper has done an amazing job for Becker County and surrounding areas,” Bouchie said. K9 Cooper started patrol in the spring of 2016 with his first success in July of 2016 where an individual ran in a many hundred-acre corn field. K9 Cooper tracked the individual, and he was

taken into custody.

K9 Cooper took first place in Narcotics in 2017 and has continued to succeed in multiple areas, primarily in tracking fleeing individuals. K9 Cooper has also been called upon for tracking lost individuals. Several tracks of individuals were successful not related to criminal activity.

K9 Cooper has approximately 85 deployments, approximately 75 people in custody because of the assistance of K9 Cooper. K9 Cooper’s largest drug find is one pound of methamphetamine. 

“Countless other narcotic finds on traffic stops and residence searches,” said Bouchie. “K9 Cooper has located three individuals that fled from a stolen vehicle at one time. K9 Cooper also located five individuals in the attic of a residence to name a few successful incidents.

“On Nov. 24, 2017, which is one of K9 Coopers most memorable track and apprehensions to date. K9 Cooper and I were called to assist with a fleeing suspect. Multiple pounds of narcotics were in the vehicle that was being chased and eventually ended up crashing into trees on a trail in rural Becker County.”

The track was already 30 minutes old, K9 Cooper and his handler, Deputy Cody Bouchie began a track for the suspect which lasted approximately 2.5 hours and was approximately 7 miles in length. K9 Cooper tracked through swamps, heavy brush, open fields, and trails which eventually led to the suspect hiding behind a downed tree. The suspect was taken into custody and was held accountable for his actions.

“K9 Cooper’s service to the county and surrounding area has kept an unknown number of residents safe in their home because he has been able to locate, and we are able to get the individual in custody,” said Bouchie. “If K9 Cooper and human partners would not have been able to get those individuals in custody, it’s unknown how many would have broken into a residence to continue to flee and take the occupants hostage or burglarize their residence.

“K9 Cooper has visited many schools and been pet by hundreds of kids. K9 Cooper is a very loving dog and will be transitioning to retirement soon.

“From a recent vet visit, arthritis has been found in both back hips and his front wrist. K9 Cooper is not quite as energetic as he used to be. K9 Cooper will enjoy his retirement at home with another dog and his five human family members.

“Many thanks to the administration at the Sheriff’s Office for encouraging and supporting the K9 Program. A big thank you to the community for supporting the K9 program, without support from all aspects it would not have been possible,” Bouchie said.

The board approved a resolution to accept K9 Cooper’s retirement and his placement with Bouchie for his remaining years, along with approving the Sheriff’s Office in accepting donations for Cooper’s replacement.

Sheriff

The board approved the sheriff’s office request to pursue a grant to apply for a DWI/Traffic Safety Officer grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The position would cost approximately $112,000.

“We have enough traffic in Becker County where we can support the position,” Sheriff Todd Glander said. 

County Assessor

The board introduced the new County Assessor Tony Vigen.

Vigen was a dairy farmer out of college at the University of Minnesota – Crookston prior to acquiring an assessor’s license. He worked in Otter Tail County for four years and 19 years in Lake County before returning to Otter Tail County. He began working for Becker County on Dec. 1.

“I’m happy to be here,” Vigen said. “I have a very good crew up there that I’m working with and I’m very pleased with.”

According to County Administrator Pat Oman, Vigen brings a wealth of experience having held chief deputy and interim department head positions for both large and small counties.

Road Construction

The county entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to allow usage of County State Aid Highway No. 48 as a detour next summer for the continuation of construction on Highway 34 between Osage and Park Rapids.