Irmo Police announce the addition of two K9 officers: Venom and Andi
August 24, 2026
The Irmo Police Department has officially welcomed two new K9 members following their recent swearing-in: K-9 Andi and K-9 Venom were sworn in by Mayor Bill Danielson at a Town Council meeting on August 18, 2026.
Both K-9s bring unique backgrounds, personalities and specialized abilities to the department as they begin their service protecting and serving the Irmo community.
K-9 Andi, a 16-month-old Belgian Malinois, was bred in the United States and originally selected for sport and competition. However, her exceptional drive, intensity and work ethic made her an ideal candidate for police work. Andi has quickly demonstrated the focus and determination needed for her new role. When she isn’t working, she enjoys walks around the neighborhood, stew meat and, of course, her favorite tug toy — which also serves as a reward for a job well done.
K-9 Venom is a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix, commonly known as a “Mal X,” who will turn two years old in September. Venom came to the Irmo Police Department from Costa Rica, and has already developed a particular talent for tracking and searching for narcotics. When Venom is on a track or conducting a search, he has a habit of running in circles as he works, a sign of his enthusiasm about the his job.
Both Andi and Venom have been certified through the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA) in narcotics detection and tracking. The addition of K9 Andi and K9 Venom strengthens the Irmo Police Department’s ability to detect narcotics and assist officers in a variety of law enforcement operations.
“We are excited to officially welcome Andi and Venom to the Irmo Police Department,” said Irmo Police Department’s Chief, Bobby Dale. “They each bring incredible drive, energy and personality to the K-9 Unit, and we’re looking forward to watching them continue to develop alongside their handlers. Most importantly, these two K-9s will play an important role in helping us keep our officers and our community safe.”
Cpl. Ken Neivel, K9 handler for Venom, and Cpl. Richand “JP” Piskura, K9 handler for Andi, were selected because of their passion and interest in working with the K9s to expand law enforcement resources for the Town. Both Irmo officers attended training at Arete Canine, where they successfully completed their certifications for Narcotics detection and tracking.
*In the coming weeks, we will have a time for interviews and demonstrations with the K9 officers and their handlers.
