Maico is a Belgian Malinois born in Holland in the spring of 1998. He was imported to the United States in August of 2000 by the Vohne Liche Kennels of Denver, Indiana. Maico was purchased by the Stillwater Police Department in May of 2001 and partnered with Officer Royce Stephens. Officer Stephens had a total of 7 ½ years of law enforcement experience before coming to SPD in May of 1999.

Maico is a very active, high speed dog. As evidenced by his photographs he was not chosen for his beauty but rather for the heart with which he approaches his duty. Maico is known for his great nose and has sniffed out illegal drugs and money in almost every conceivable hiding place in buildings, vehicles and open fields. He has been utilized in the tracking or apprehension of numerous dangerous criminals. In 2001 Maico led officers through nearly ½ mile of extremely dense woods where he apprehended the suspected molester of a 12 year old child.

Although he only weighs about 63 pounds, it is theorized that Maico believes himself to be a freight train with teeth. Even our largest and strongest volunteers to wear a bite suit have had a hard time staying on their feet after a conversation with Maico. In the spring of 2002 Maico traveled to Mississippi to compete in the Gulfcoast Pro-Sport K-9 Trial. In the Police K-9 Division Maico earned a second place in tracking and apprehension and a first place trophy for narcotics detection.

Despite the enthusiasm with which Maico attacks his work he is always ready to be loved on and is just as happy in the middle of a classroom full of first graders. In his spare time Maico enjoys wagging his tail and fetching anything you’ll throw for him.