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Handler – Deputy Jason Ivins
Orange County sheriff’s K-9 Rhino, once a star on the force, passes away
Rhino, a 10-year-old Dutch shepherd who served with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, suddenly died this week. Rhino had been retired eight months when he suffered breathing problems and died Wednesday, Oct. 25, said Jaimee Blashaw, a sheriff’s spokeswoman. For six years, Rhino served Orange County alongside his partner, Deputy Jason Ivins, who has since become a sergeant. Rhino was trained in suspect apprehension and narcotics. During his career he found more than $450,000 associated with suspected drug sales, 680 pounds of marijuana, and 78 pounds of methamphetamine. He forced the surrender of more than 80 offenders and apprehended five who had refused to give up. Once in Lake Forest, a known gang member was in a stolen vehicle, Ivins told the Register in 2015. Deputies were familiar with the suspect who had been previously arrested for having weapons. When deputies ordered him from the car, he refused to come out. That’s when Ivins arrived with Rhino.“I sent Rhino on a search command to the vehicle,” Ivins said. “He jumped into the vehicle, grabbed the suspect by the shirt and pulled him out of the car. Then deputies took him into custody.” Rhino was born in 2007 in Holland and was trained at the Royal Dutch Police Dog Association before being purchased by the department. He was deployed all across the county wherever needed. He retired eight months ago when Ivins was promoted to sergeant. Rhino lived with Ivins, the sergeant’s wife and and their two children. “Police Service Dog Rhino will be missed and remembered by his partner, Sgt. Ivins, his family, and the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, who had the honor of working with him,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “Rhino was loved by countless citizens and department members, with whom he interacted with on a daily basis.”
