Minnesota Capitol gets new security K-9
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The latest effort to enhance security in and around the state Capitol is a bomb-sniffing dog named “Matka.”
Lt. Gov. Tina Smith and Minnesota State Patrol troopers assigned to the Capitol security detail introduced their new, K-9 colleague Wednesday during a news conference.
“I have never met a dog that I didn’t love, but this dog is a special dog,” Smith said. “There is a special responsibility to keep this place safe, and that is what this amazing dog is going to do help us do going forward.”
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
The State Patrol currently has 12 K-9s. But Capt. Eric Roeske, director of Capitol security, said Matka is the only one assigned exclusively to the Capitol and the only one trained for explosives detection.
Roeske said the K-9 and her handler will patrol the buildings and respond to incidents such as an unattended bag.
"Matka is another layer of security that we’ll be providing here at the Capitol for the people that work, visit and do their business here,” Roeske said.
Matka is a Hungarian vizsla.
Her handler is Trooper Kaj Meinhardt.