On February 1, after thirty years of service, Riverside Police Officer Ray Soto will be attending his last roll call on the graveyard shift and will be hanging up his city issued dog leash as the police department’s senior canine handler.

He has been a K-9 handler for the past nineteen years and the senior member on the team since 1997.

Officer Ray Soto started his law enforcement career with the El Centro Police Department, where he was born and raised and transferred to the Riverside Police Department in 1982.

Soto’s ambition was to become a member of the elite K-9 team and participated at countless training exercises until being appointed to the K-9 Unit in 1993.

Since his appointment to the K-9 Unit, Soto has worked with three K-9 partners, serving primarily on the graveyard shift, and is one of the K-9 Teams assigned to the SWAT Team.

“Ray’s devotion, commitment and compassion to the development of the police canine program will be missed”, said Sergeant Patrick McCarthy, who supervises the program.

“Ray has been instrumental in assisting with training and provided countless demonstrations with his dog over the years at schools, community functions and public education forums”, said Lieutenant Chuck Griffitts, the commander for the canine unit.  “His knowledge and experience has been tremendous asset to the Department and benefit to the officers currently on the team and he will be missed.”

Soto’s loyal K-9 partner; “CARAT,” is a nine-year-old German Shepherd and will be turning in his dog tags after six years of dedicated service with Soto holding the leash.

The K-9 will enjoy his golden years and retirement in the care of the Soto family.

Filed under Headline

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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