Saratoga County Sheriffs’ Office graduates 6 new canine teams
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office recently graduated six new canine teams from the 2019-2020 canine school that commenced this past September.
Prior to the start of the school, six new canines were selected. Of these six, four will be replacing existing canines that have moved on to retirement. All the retiring canines will remain with their handlers and their families in retirement.
Two of the new canines are assigned to handlers who are new to the K9 Unit. The Sheriff’s Office K-9 school consists of more than five months of training. The training covers patrol functions such as handler protection, building search procedures and socialization with the public. The canines are also trained to track criminal suspects or missing persons.
The Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit now comprises of four narcotics detection teams and four explosive detection teams, all dual purpose for patrol work.
Deputy Nic Denno & Canine Taylor
Deputy Nic Denno will officially retire his partner Canine Jagger and will be teamed up with a one-year-old German Shepard named Taylor. Canine Taylor has been named after PFC David “Taylor” Miller from the Town of Wilton. PFC Miller was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
PFC Miller died in combat on June 21, 2010, in Lar Sholtan Village, Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Canine Taylor and Deputy Denno will serve as a Narcotics Detection and Patrol/Tracking team assigned to the road patrol.
Deputy Robert Whipple & Canine J.D.
Deputy Robert Whipple will officially retire his partner Canine Karma and will be teamed up with an almost-two-year-old German Shepard – Malinois, named J.D. who is named after Deputy Whipple’s father, John D. Whipple. John passed away in 2016, after a battle with brain cancer.
He was a huge supporter of the Sheriff’s Office and the K-9 Unit. Canine J.D. and Deputy Whipple will serve as a Narcotics Detection and Patrol/Tracking team assigned to the road patrol.
Deputy Brownell & Canine Johnny
Deputy C.J. Brownell will officially retire his partner Canine Lee and will be teamed up with a one-year-old German Shepard named Johnny. Canine Johnny is named after Saratoga County Sheriff’s Investigator John M. Brown.
Investigator Brown was a 12year member of the Sheriff’s Office who died unexpectedly in 2017. Investigator Brown was a valued and beloved member of the
Sheriff’s Office who was highly dedicated to serving the residents of Saratoga County. Deputy Brownell and Canine Johnny will serve as a Narcotics Detection and Patrol/Tracking team assigned to the road patrol.
Officer Adam Potter & Canine Riker
Officer Adam Potter retired his partner Canine Bud in September of 2019 due to an unexpected illness. Officer Potter will now be serving the Sheriff’s Of
fice Correctional Facility with his new partner, a one- year-old German Shepard named Riker.
Canine Riker, being named after the NYC Correctional Facility, will be an instrumental part of the Correctional Staff working to locate and deter prison contraband.
Deputy Nikki Voegler & Canine Neeka
Deputy Nikki Voegler is a newly assigned member of the K-9 Unit who will be assigned to Canine Neeka; an 18-month-old German Shepard. Deputy Voegler will be the first female handler to join the K-9 Unit. Deputy Voegler and Canine Neeka will serve as an Explosives Detection and Patrol/Tracking team assigned to the road patrol.
Deputy Crien Salton & Canine Flash
Deputy Crien Salton is also a newly assigned member of the K-9 Unit who will be assigned to Canine Flash; a one-yearold German Shepard. Canine Flash was named in memory of retired Deputy William “Flash” Marshall, who passed away in January 2018.
Deputy Marshall served the citizens of Saratoga County for more than 33 years. Deputy Salton and Canine Flash will serve as an Explosives Detection and Patrol/Tracking team assigned to the road patrol.