Sheriffs’ Office Graduates Six New Canine Teams

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Sheriffs’ Office graduated six new canine teams from the 2019- 2020 canine school on Feb. 14. 

Of the six new canines, 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.

They are: Deputy Nic Denno and 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. 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. 

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. 

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 Office Correctional Facility with his new partner, a one-year-old German Shepard named Riker. 

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 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-year-old German Shepard.