The new employee of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office is not a freshman from the police academy, but rather a 5-month-old black Labrador.
The department’s latest “recruit,” who has yet to be named, will be trained to serve the Morris County community as an explosive detection dog, officials said.
Recognized as one of the top dog trainers in the country, Det. Cpl. Mike McMahon (winner of “America’s Top-Dog”), will lead the training and will be assisted by Det. Marc Adamsky, the sheriff’s office said. The K9 will be assigned to Det. Mike Smith.
In addition to detecting explosives, the dog “will also assist in the vital task of reuniting loved ones with their families as a search and rescue trained K9,” Sheriff James M. Gannon said in a press release. .
The pup was donated to the department and is the second Morris County Sheriff’s dog of Lost Highway Kennels, a North Carolina facility where owner Grayson Guyer trains and breeds working dogs.
Among this litter of pups is the newest member of Morris County Sheriff’s K9 Section.
Another dog, Chip, joined the agency from Lost Highway Kennels in August 2017. Chip is currently assigned to the New Jersey State Police Detect and Render Safe Task Force with his handler, Det. David Marshall, officials said.
The newest addition to the Morris County Sheriff’s K9 Section will be appointed by new law enforcement officers currently in training at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy.
“Rookies will have the opportunity to develop a lifelong connection with this new K9 that will then support them down the road,” the sheriff’s office said.
Many New Jersey departments employ K9 units to respond to various public safety issues.
In August, a sleuth from the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit located three boys after they wandered into the woods and got lost.
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jackie roman can be attached to [email protected].