Introduction of the Newest Member of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is pleased to introduce the newest member of the canine team, an 11-week-old female Bloodhound named, Windy. Windy joins the ranks of a well-established canine team that has assisted in the identification and locating of hundreds of individuals throughout Riverside County and the state of California through mutual aid collaboration. Since 1998, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has benefited from the canines’ ability to track individuals classified as criminal, at risk, or missing.

The 28 members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department canine division, includes four tracking dogs. Riverside County public safety agencies rely heavily on these canines for their expertise in scent detection and tracking.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department tracking team is comprised of:

Inga, a 7-year-old Bloodhound
Mandy, a 6-year-old Bloodhound
Marley, a 6-year-old German Shepherd
Windy, an 11-week-old Bloodhound

Windy was chosen following a comprehensive selection process. Her new partner, Deputy Robert Ochoa, will soon initiate the 1-year training process. Unlike their patrol canine counterparts, tracking Bloodhounds are not easily interchangeable and remain with the same canine handler throughout their working career. In order to capitalize on the long-standing working relationship, the handler and Bloodhound are matched while the Bloodhound is a puppy, and spend every working moment together.

Windy, along with her supporting equipment and training, was acquired through a generous private donation to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department canine program.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department canines are available after-hours and during weekend emergency response. Tracking dogs are often utilized in urban, mountain and desert communities. Recent casework has included the search for missing at risk elders, and abducted and runaway juveniles.

If you have any questions please contact Sergeant Anthony Williams at (951) 922-7100.