Canine Zeva. Rodriguez Are Responders of the Week

This week’s Responder of the Week is Ulysses Police Department Canine Officer Zeva and her handler Ivan Rodriguez. Zeva is a 3-1/2 year-old Belgian Malinois who began her career in May 2022 and Rodriguez has been her handler for three years.

Belgian Malinois are a medium-sized herding dog breed that originated in Belgium in the 19th Century. They are  known for their intelligence, protective and territorial instincts.

Rodriguez said some of Zeva’s career highlights include assisting other agencies across Southwest Kansas on school searches, locating illegal narcotics in Ulysses, tracking suspects and bite work. The training process includes 700 hours for the canine and 50 hours over three months for the trainer. The officers re-certify every spring for illegal narcotics and training through the Kansas Police Dog Training Association which conducts tracking tests, narcotics tests, parcels/backpacks, open room search, and vehicle searches, but do not have to re-certify for handler protection.

When they do the tracking test they use her favorite toy which is a ball on a rope. The examiner will create a trail for Zeva to follow and let Rodriguez  know where it starts. Once testing begins, Rodriguez gives the command and Zeva goes to work.

Zeva was born in Italy and was purchased by canine trainer Tomas Brenneman. From there, she was sold to canine trainer and Grant County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Meairs. She made her way to the UPD when chief Ron Vagher approved the purchase.

Rodriguez is a native of Johnson and has been with the Ulysses Police Department for nine years.

Zeva and Rodriguez were nominated by Elizabeth Koehn.

Each emergency responsder who is selected as Responder of the Week is in the running for Responder of the Month every month, and each Responder of the Month is then eligible for Responder of the Year. Winners are picked randomly from all the current nominees via a digital application to be Responder of the Month.

If you would like to nominate someone for this honor please submit your nomination to news2@ulyssesnews.com. Nominees can be law enforcement officers, 911 dispatchers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, military personnel, public health professionals and utility line workers.If you would like to be a part of this program contact the Ulysses News.