During the Children’s Services of Sno-Valley Wrangler

Rendezvous Auction, my children purchased a K-9 ride with the

King County Sheriff’s Office for me. I was very thrilled and

looked forward with anticipation to this ride with the King

County K-9 unit.

When I finally went on Aug. 20, I had no preconceived ideas of

what I would experience. And I must say that I was surprised.

Deputy Randy Houser and his partner Riggs were very nice to

spend an eight-hour shift with me. Deputy Randy, a very friendly,

soft-spoken person, has a partner in Riggs who is loyal,

rambunctious and vociferous. Riggs, a three-year-old German

shepherd dog, is eager to get moving once the key is turned in

the car’s ignition. The loving pet now becomes a very alert

partner. He wants to do his job and please his partner/master.

We went on routine assignments, like locking gates at the

public parks around Lake Washington’s shoreline, to looking for

suspected burglars, as well as other calls in between. It is

still puzzling to me as to what plays out at night all over our

communities when we are safe at home. The car radio cracked with

calls. Even though many of them are coded calls, there is enough

conversation between the dispatcher and the car called, for a lay

person to understand the meaning of the call.

When we are usually comfortable in our homes at night, the

streets turn dangerous. One never knows when a routine call can

turn violent.

My hat is off to all the men, women and K-9 dogs out there,

who protect us and risk their lives. The streets are mean. Even

though I did not experience any of this personally, I was fully

aware of it.

I had a good experience and came forth with a better

understanding of the job our law enforcement people do. Minor or

major calls, they are out there to protect us.

Many thanks to Deputy Houser and Riggs, who allowed me to be

on this K-9 ride and also to my children who made it possible for

me to go.

Thea Tiryakioglu North Bend