MONTGOMERY – Several police officers from a number of agencies graduated from the Orange County Sheriff’s K-9 academy last Friday.
Among them was Deputy MaryJo Manzo and her K-9 Davey. She became the first female K-9 officer in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Her K- was named in honor of Corrections Officer David Snell, who died in September 2020.
The 2021 K-9 Detector School graduated six Narcotic Detection K-9’s:
- Officer MaryJo Manzo of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office with K-9 Davey
- Deputy Kyle Frano of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office with K-9 Hydra
- Officer Joseph V. Bell of the Town of New Windsor Police Department with K-9 Duke
- Officer Jordan Fedun of the Town of Fallsburg Police Department with K-9 Koos
- Officer Melissa Berke of the Village of Monroe Police Department with K-9 Keen
- Officer Joseph Mendez of the Village of Washingtonville Police Department with K-9 Jax
Three Explosive Detection K-9’s:
- Officer Joseph Mercurio of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office with K-9 Ott
- Officer Jonathan Saintiche of the City of Peekskill Police Department with K-9 Bones
- Officer Robert Reilly of the Town of Clarkstown Police Department with K-9 Yara.
The program was coordinated and instructed by Lead Trainer/K-9 Unit Supervisor, Sergeant Dustin Palen along with Assistant Trainers Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Yela, Deputy Sheriff Vincent Iannuzzi and Deputy Sheriff Kyle Frano.
