After emotional debate, K-9 will remain with handler who left Swift County Sheriff’s Office

BENSON, Minn. — An emotional debate in Swift County has been resolved in what members of the County Board said they hope is an amicable if costly manner. The commissioners at their Tuesday, June 2, meeting unanimously approved transferring ownership of K-9 Red to his handler, Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Henriksen, for $5,000. “With all the parameters, all the issues it touches, this is probably the best result if it is amicable for everyone,” said commissioner Gary Hendrickx, who made the motion for the transfer. “A highly emotional subject,” said commissioner Pete Peterson. “I understand that and I understand protecting the county’s investment for the taxpayers.” But he added: “I feel the $5,000 is way too much.” The fate of Red, a Malinois-Shepherd mix originally from Slovakia, recently became the focus of debate when Deputy Henriksen submitted his resignation via email to the county’s human resources officer, while accepting another position. In his resignation email, the deputy asked to purchase the K-9 and the equipment for the dog for $1. Henriksen has been the handler since the dog was acquired in March 2022 at about 11 months of age. The county invested more than $10,000 to acquire the dog, and the
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