Special to arkadelphian.com
The City of Arkadelphia is hosting a meet and greet for the Arkadelphia Fire Department’s new accelerant detection canine, K9 Ike, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Town Hall. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will end with a skills demonstration starting around 5:10 p.m.
Residents are invited to join K9 Ike and his handler, AFD Lt. Beau Bishop, on the front lawn of Town Hall from 4:30 to 5 p.m. At approximately 5:10 p.m., guests will be invited inside for an interactive accelerant detection training session with K9 Ike.
“K9 Ike has to work, or train, to eat,” Bishop said. “Training is part of his daily routine, but this will be his first training course in Town Hall. I’m excited for our residents and partners to see him in action.”
Accelerant detection canines, like K9 Ike, are used in fire investigations to help determine if arson or foul play was involved. In May, K9 Ike and Bishop will attend tracking school in Birmingham, Alabama. Upon graduation, the pair will be certified to work missing persons cases. This dual-purpose role is unique, and will benefit AFD, APD, and surrounding agencies.
AFD partnered with the Arkadelphia Police Department (APD), Clark County Sheriff’s Office, and Clark County Prosecutor and Juvenile Office to acquire K9 Ike. With the support of various community partners, Lieutenant Bishop raised $50,000 to cover the training, housing, and vehicle costs associated with an accelerant detection canine.
“This is something that I have wanted to do for a really long time,” Bishop said. “These dogs can be a vital resource to our emergency services in so many different ways. I am beyond grateful to all of the community sponsors who made this a reality.”
The City of Arkadelphia extends its warmest gratitude to the following community partners for supporting this project:
- Patterson Federal Credit Union
- Crye Leike Pro Elite Realty
- R&T Enterprises
- Clark County Judge Troy Tucker
- Laura Eckert–Clark County Farm
Bureau - The Ross Foundation
- Beene’s Towing & Recovery
- Southern Bancorp
- Two Rivers Credit Union
- Citizens Bank
- Walmart–Arkadelphia
- Hardman Lumber
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