Round Lake welcomes new Police K-9 Team

The village of Round Lake Police Department is proud to introduce its newest four-legged officer, Valor, a 1-year-old German shepherd who has officially joined the department's patrol section alongside his handler, Officer Nelson Rodriguez.

After completing hundreds of hours of rigorous training, Officer Rodriguez and Valor have earned their official certification and are now serving the Round Lake community. Together, the team has received specialized training in patrol operations, narcotics detection, tracking missing persons and suspects, article searches and a variety of other critical law enforcement functions.

Their extensive initial certification program included eight weeks of intensive classroom instruction and hands on practical training. The curriculum covered deployment standards, canine behavior, legal updates, real-world scenarios, problem-solving techniques and field applications designed to prepare the team for the challenges they may encounter while serving the community.

The addition of Valor strengthens the department's mission to public safety and enhances its ability to protect and serve the residents of the village of Round Lake. Police canines are invaluable partners, providing specialized skills that help locate missing individuals, apprehend suspects, detect illegal narcotics and support officers in a wide range of situations.