Trooper Schmidt, Ibo will team up in Lebanon

State Police Trooper Adam Schmidt, with Ibo, at Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde, Maine. (Courtesy photo)

VASSALBORO, Maine - Maine State Police Trooper Adam Schmidt and Ibo are the new team in town, as in K-9 team.

The two graduated today from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro.

Schmidt has been one of the troopers with regular duty in Lebanon, and now he will be accompanied by Ibo on regular patrols, said Maine State Police Sgt. Jonathan Shapiro, who is in charge of Lebanon coverage from the Troop A Barracks in Alfred.

Shapiro said Ibo will be a regular patrol dog with Schmidt and will also assist in suspect flight and article searches among other duties.

Shapiro, who was part of a K-9 team for several years, said Schmidt and Ibo will now be constant companions, living and working together.

Troop A now has three K-9 units.

It was also announced today that Schmidt was a nominee for State Police Trooper of the Year, which was ultimately won by Detective Scott Bryant of Jackson, a 20-year veteran of the force.