Meet Myla: The new police dog keeping Colorado City safe

COLORADO CITY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Colorado City Police Department has recently added a powerful new member to its ranks—a 20-month-old Dutch Shepherd named Myla, who is already proving to be an asset in the fight against crime.

Certified in narcotics detection, tracking, and bite work, Myla is a true triple threat. She and her handler, Ridge Saverance, completed six weeks of training at Custom Canines in Georgia, where Myla stood out as one of the top performers, according to Police Chief Kyle Strickland.

“Ridge Saverance served in the military and made a huge commitment to make Colorado City a safer community as he used his post-9/11 GI funds to assist in getting a K9 unit to our department,” Stickland shared. “As the police chief, I knew of another officer in a previous agency who had stepped up and utilized the same process. This proposal was presented to the city manager, Donna Madrid, with huge support prior to the council. Mayor Ruben Hurt and all council members voted to approve additional funds needed for the program and have shown great support, as there were a lot of moving pieces to make it happen.”

Though Myla has only been with the department for a few weeks, she’s already making an impact. She assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety in obtaining probable cause for searches, leading to the discovery of methamphetamines and marijuana. Myla has also worked with the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office on warrant arrests and vehicle searches.

Ridge and Myla continue to undergo ongoing training with the Sweetwater Police Department’s K9 team to sharpen their skills.