POUGHHKEEPSIE – The Dutchess County Drug Task Force has sent two agents back to school to work on their “sniffers,” according to Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Adam Harris, the task force coordinator. Harris announced the training schedule on Monday.
K-9 Denver is a four-year veteran of the task force who has been trained and certified in obedience, agility, tracking, building search, area search, article search, handler protection, and criminal apprehension, like all police K-9s, according to Harris.
Following basic training before task force work, K-9 Denver and his former partner went through the specialized Narcotics Detection School where Denver was certified in detecting narcotics including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamines. The four-legged Labrador Retriever acknowledged the language barrier between dog and partner, barking that the school will teach the handler how to read the signs and actions he exhibits while detecting narcotics so the human can respond accordingly.
Denver started training his two-legged partner in the intensive four-week Narcotics Detection School on Monday, hosted by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.
“This K-9 team is a resource to help us combat drug dealers who are bringing dangerous drugs into our communities,” said Harris.
Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said, “My office is dedicated to combatting the narcotics crisis in Dutchess County and Denver is one more asset that helps take drugs off our streets.””
If anyone has information regarding the sale of illegal drugs in Dutchess County, you are urged to call the Dutchess County Drug Task Force confidential tip line at 845-463-6040 or email DrugTaskForceTips@gmail.com.
