K9
Carole.FlynnWhite July 5th, 2007
There are three primary areas of focus for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office K9 program; Patrol, Investigations, and Search and Rescue. Each of the K9 deputies, like their handlers, are commissioned deputy sheriffs.
The K9 Patrol deputies and their partners are charged with supporting day-to-day patrol operations by being available to track and apprehend suspected criminals who might otherwise escape or be in a position to cause other deputies or citizens harm. Currently, K9 Justice and K9 LIDAR are assigned to the patrol unit with their handlers.
The K9 Investigation deputies and their partners are responsible for assisting the Snohomish County Regional Drug Task force. Currently, comprised of one dog (K9 Sutter) they are a drug recognition team.
The K9 Search and Rescue deputies and their partners are responsible with supporting the overall mission of the Snohomish County Search and Rescue Unit. Currently, K9 Rex is assigned to the program with his K9 handler.
K9 Song
When you first looked at me what did you see?
Did you see service and love and loyalty?
Did your heart thrill, as did mine,
When you chose me as your K9?
Through the days we will serve together,
There’ll be not situation we cannot weather.
And as we make our nightly rounds,
My love for you will know no bounds.
The bad guy in the chase that you pursue,
Is sometimes difficult for you.
That is when you can count on me,
With my special senses man cannot see.
With a nose for scent and my awareness of danger,
I will become your special ranger.
With lightening speed I will surely find,
Those felons who flee - the most evil kind.
Through fields and woods and over walls,
I respond to your voice when duty calls.
As your K9 partner I will chase for you,
Those bad guys who defy and run from their due.
And when the chase and capture ends,
I return to you and deputy friends.
Then my heart beats with unbounded joy,
When you pet and hug me and say “Good Boy!”
This partnership I have with you,
This special friendship so tried and true,
Is one of being put to a remarkable test
For working together, we are always the best.
When our service together comes to an end,
as someday it surely must,
you’ll take me home to family and friend
to live with those I most trust.
Nights on patrol with you I will miss.
But I will sleep in perfect bliss
and have the most excellent and finest dream
Of our times together when we were a team.
- Carole Flynn White
K9 Patrol
- K9 Deputy Justice
K9 Deputy Justice was purchased by “Pennies for Puppies and Ponies” in December, 2005.This sixteen-month-old “puppy” came to the Sheriff’s Office from The Netherlands, underwent his training, and was certified by the Washington Police Canine Association in May, 2006. Justice proudly boasts of five captures and has recently completed training as a dual-service dog—he can not only capture the “bad guys,” but also detect narcotics while on patrol. He is partnered with Deputy James Gibson, the K-9 Unit’s Field Trainer and a Certified Master Trainer by the Washington Police Canine Association.
- K9 Deputy LIDAR
K9 Deputy LIDAR was purchased through a grant awarded to “Pennies for Puppies and Ponies” by The Tulalip Tribes. Acquired in early 2006, LIDAR has completed his training and is certified by the Washington Police K-9 Association. Now on patrol in Snohomish County, LIDAR is partnered with Deputy Brandon McCullar and they are the Unit’s newest team. He is rapidly getting used to public demonstations, the hallmark of the program, and is eagerly awaiting his chance to get out and meet more of his constituents.
K9 Investigations
- K9 Detective Sutter
K9 Detective Sutter is assigned to the Snohomish County Regional Narcotics Task Force. She was purchased by “Pennies for Puppies and Ponies“ and replaced retired Detective Baker who was also purchased by “Pennies for Puppies and Ponies.”
K9 Search and Rescue
- K9 Deputy Rex
K9 Deputy Rex is assigned to Deputy Bergstrom with the Snohomish County Search & Rescue Unit. Rex was trained by world-renowned SAR Dog Trainer Andy Rebman. In addition to his basic SAR skills, K9 Rex has advanced skills such as cadaver searching and on-and-off lead scent discrimination tracking. K9 Rex and Deputy Bergstrom are also members of the Rescue Helicopter Response Team and are frequently deployed from the chopper by rope and harness in order to rescue citizens caught in isolated and dangerous terrain.
