The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office has welcomed a new addition to their team.

A new explosives-detecting K-9 named Riot was brought onto the team after a grant from the Department of Homeland Security was secured.

A portion of the grant money included the selection and purchase of a new explosives K-9 along with funding training for the new handler and K-9. K-9 Riot is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois trained in explosives detection, tracking and apprehension.

He and Deputy Justin Phillips will be attending an upcoming six-week handler course, and then Riot will be joining the other department K-9s – Bosco, Miko and Simba.