Steve Olson and Gauner:

During a routine patrol one summer, Deputy Steve Olson and Gauner received a call to assist another deputy at a construction site where two suspicious vehicles had been sighted. Two suspects were taken into custody for further questioning. Deputy Olson asked one of the suspects to put his hands on the rear of the squad car. Instead, the suspect swung at Olson and then ran toward a ditch. Olson tackled the suspect, only to be faced with an aggressive, physical attack.

The assailant resisted with intense strength and suddenly Olson was in a life-threatening choke hold. He needed his canine partner, Gauner. Pushing a quick-release button on his gun belt, Olson opened the squad car door and Gauner leaped into action, grabbing the assailant's leg as he had been trained to do. Gauner's powerful jaws allowed Olson to maneuver from the choke hold and gain control of the situation. The assailant was quickly handcuffed and secured.

Not only were they able to apprehend a violent criminal, but they did so without the use of deadly force. Gauner got lots of hugs for his great work and Deputy Olson is thankful for the additional training that your support of the K-9 Foundation helps to provide.