K-9 Division
Tracking, detection, and apprehension — on four legs.
Our Mission
The K-9 Division supports law enforcement operations by detecting, tracking, and apprehending suspects to enhance deputy safety and operational effectiveness. Our handlers and their dogs deploy alongside Patrol, SWAT, and investigative units to give the Sheriff's Office capabilities no human team can match alone.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct narcotics, explosives, and evidence detection
- Track suspects and missing persons through wooded, urban, and rural terrain
- Assist in high-risk apprehensions and searches
- Support Patrol, SWAT, and specialized units during incidents
- Perform vehicle, building, and area searches
- Conduct demonstrations for schools, community groups, and public safety events
Day in the Life
A K-9 handler's shift starts at home — feeding, kennel checks, and a vehicle inspection of the climate-controlled K-9 compartment. Handlers run scenario training daily, then go available on Patrol with the dog as a working partner.
A traffic stop can pivot into a vehicle sniff in seconds. A burglary alarm at night becomes a building search. A missing-child call becomes a track. The work shifts continuously between routine patrol and operations that no other unit can support.
Training & Certification
- Initial handler school and dog selection through certified vendors
- Patrol, narcotics, and explosives certifications maintained annually
- Daily scenario-based tracking, detection, and apprehension training
- Multi-agency K-9 training with airport, municipal, federal, and military partners
- USPCA / NPCA national competitions and certification standards
- Vehicle, building, area, and article search proficiency
- Continuous obedience and decoy work to keep the dog operationally sharp
Why K-9?
Few assignments in law enforcement combine the working partnership, the variety of calls, and the operational impact of K-9. Your dog goes home with you, trains with you, and works every shift at your side. The unit answers calls no one else can — and the results speak for themselves.
Ready to Work with a Dog?
K-9 handlers come from within the Sheriff's Office. Start as a Deputy Sheriff, gain Patrol experience, and earn your spot on a working team.
View Deputy Sheriff Careers