"He's going to have a lot of success stories:" K9 Officer Askan to join New Berlin PD

NEW BERLIN (WITI) -- He's an expert at finding illegal drugs and criminals, and he's about to become the newest member of the New Berlin Police Force.

From sniffing out heroin to finding evidence left behind by a burglar, K9 Officer Askan can do it all.

Askan is a German Shepard, and one of two K9s on the New Berlin Police Force. Askan and his handler, Officer Rick Helm, are on the streets of Waukesha County every night.

"Right now the big spike is the heroin, we focus a lot on the heroin, we see the marijuana and also the cocaine," Officer Rick Helm said.

Askan has already done a drug search in a space more than four thousand square feet, and he's been able to locate evidence.

"They want to keep looking for that odor to get that reward," Officer Helm said.

K9 Askan was officially sworn in during a ceremony on Monday night, January 26th at the Public Safety Building in New Berlin. At the ceremony, Askan received his K9 badge -- and a New Berlin resident presented the department's K9 program with a $15,000 donation. The program is funded through such generosity.

Askan has been working on the force since October. He will be replacing K9 Officer Argo, who retired due to an illness.

"He`s going to have a lot of success stories and we`re going to have a lot of success stories together, for the community," Officer Helm said.