Worcester County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit

K9 Team

The K-9 patrol related duties include:

  • Tracking
  • Area/Building Searches
  • Obedience with verbal and non-verbal commands
  • Officer protection
  • High Risk/Felony car stops
  • Suspect apprehension
  • Riot Control
  • S.W.A.T. related apprehensions
  • Public demonstratons

K9 OfficerThe K-9 teams area assigned as rove cars to better respond to in-progress type calls within the County. Whether the call is for narcotics detection or criminal apprehension, the units can respond more quickly while roving and not assigned to a specific sector or district.

The K-9s are assigned to one specific officer and lives with that officer and his family. A K-9 team usually stays together four to six years until the K-9 retires. When the K-9 retires from service the handler has the first option to keep the K-9 as their pet.

The Sheriff's Office K-9 units undergo rigorous ongoing training programs to maintain proficiency in basic skills and ensure continued effective performance in the field. Each K-9 team must complete a state-mandated 10-week training course at a certified K-9 training facility. After completing this initial training, Sheriff's K-9 teams must maintain at least eight hours of in-service training each month.

The K-9 dog is trained to track and locate, to follow and alert on fresh human scent which includes suspects who have walked or run away from crime scenes or who have barricaded themselves in a building or house. The canine is also trained to protect the handler and to hold a violent or dangerous person from escaping. The K-9 team is on-call 24-hours a day.

K-9 can also be utilized in tracking lost children in a search and rescue event. proficiency.

Deputy Calvin Purnell and Luger
Deputy Calvin Purnell and Luger

The Canine Services Detail also supports the Special Weapons Teams on all activations, as well as during the service of high-risk search/arrest warrants. Canine handlers regularly train and work in conjunction with the Special Weapons Teams and have attended the same SWAT Schools. They are generally the first responders to situations that will eventually necessitate the activation of a Special Weapons Teams and it is often a Canine Deputy at the scene who will assist in making the determination that an incident will require more than a tactical area search, particularly in barricaded suspect situations. The Canine Services Detail is a valued resource at the Special Enforcement Bureau, and provides tactical support to the entire department twenty-four hours a day. In addition to supporting the department, the Canine Services Detail also provides assistance to local law enforcement agencies that do not possess a canine program.

Deputy Chuck Dennis and Denny
Deputy Chuck Dennis and Denny

Deputy Bethany Ramey and Dino
Deputy Bethany Ramey and Dino