ISSUE 84 $9.95
Featured K-9 Unit Franklin County (OH) Sheriff’s Office
E-Collar Sit-Stay
FRANKLIN (OH)
COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CANINE UNIT
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit is a full time, full-service unit located in Columbus, Ohio and operates 24/7, 365 covering various shifts. The unit was officially established in 1986 and is one of the oldest full-time canine units in the state of Ohio. The Canine Unit provides service to over 1.3 million residents within Franklin County, which consists of over 532 square miles. The Canine Unit assists FCSO Patrol Deputies with calls for service and provides mutual aid to numerous police agencies both in and outside of Franklin County. The Canine Unit 4 2 | policek9magazine.com consists of two Sergeants and six Deputies who are all K-9 handlers.
MISSION STATEMENT – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus, Ohio, is a full service law enforcement agency, an arm of the courts, and the custodial keeper of those who break the law. It is the mission of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Franklin County, to preserve the peace, and to prevent crime and disorder while constantly guarding personal liberties as prescribed by law. This must be done with honor and integrity, conducting ourselves with the highest ethical standards to maintain public confidence.
1788 year established 1986 year canine unit
established
1.3 million residents 532 mi2 area covered
781 sworn deputies
ALL SHERIFF’S OFFICE CANINES SPECIALIZE IN:
- CRIMINAL APPREHENSION - ARTICLE SEARCHES - TR ACKING - AREA SEARCHES - BUILDING SEARCHES - OBEDIENCE - AND EITHER NARCOTICS OR EXPLOSIVES ODOR DETECTION
43
F E AT U R E D K- 9 U N I T : F R A N K L I N C O U N T Y ( O H ) S H E R I F F ’ S O F F I C E
Sgt. Aaron Heflin & K-9 Vando Sgt. Aaron Heflin is a 20-year veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff ’s Office and became Sergeant of the Canine Unit in 2013. His partner, Vando, is a 9-year-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic. Vando is a dual-purpose canine who specializes in explosives detection. Throughout Vando’s career, he has assisted in the protection of many dignitaries, elected officials and other heads of state who have visited central Ohio. Vando is responsible for the successful apprehension of dozens of violent criminals wanted for homicide, aggravated burglary and robbery.
Sgt. Jeff Valentine & K-9 Will Sgt. Jeff Valentine is a 15-year veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and a US Marine Corps Veteran who served in the Iraq war. He became a Corporal in the K-9 Unit in 2013 after spending multiple years with the Warrants/Extraditions Unit. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2017. His partner, Will, is a 9-year-old German Shepherd from the Czech Republic. Will is a dual-purpose canine, with specialized training in narcotics detection and has many credited felony narcotics arrests and cash seizures. Sgt. Valentine and Will were featured on AE’s LivePD, Season 3.
Dep. Jeremey Copas & K-9 Atrey
4 4 | policek9magazine.com
Deputy Jeremey Copas is a 24-year veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and has been a member of the K-9 Unit for nine years. His partner, Atrey, is a 9-year-old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois hybrid from the Czech Republic. Atrey is a dual-purpose K-9 with specialized training in explosives odor detection. During their time together, they have protected many dignitaries and heads of state who travel to Central Ohio, as well as providing explosives sweeps prior to the Ohio State Buckeye football games. Atrey is credited with tracking and apprehending many felony suspects and violent wanted persons.
FRANKLIN (OH ) COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CANINE UNIT Dep. Jimmy McCoy & K-9 Nitro Deputy Jimmy Mccoy is a 27-year veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and is also a US Marine Corps Veteran. Deputy McCoy has been a canine handler since 2014. Deputy McCoy’s first K-9 partner, Riddick, passed away unexpectedly after six years of service with the Sheriff’s Office. His new partner, Nitro, is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois from France. Nitro specializes in narcotics odor detection. Over his career in the FCSO K-9 Unit, Deputy McCoy and his partners have assisted in many felony arrests and narcotic seizures.
Dep. Michael Severance & K-9 Hazen Deputy Michael Severance is a 47-year veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff ’s Office and a founding member of the FCSO Canine Unit in 1986. He has served under seven Sheriffs and has been a handler of seven canines, both in explosives and narcotics odor detection. Deputy Severance is currently the longest tenured full time K-9 handler in Ohio, and the oldest full time handler in the United States. He is also a canine evaluator for the State of Ohio. During his career, Michael has been the recipient of many honors and awards related to his canine service and conducted hundreds of narcotic sweeps. His current partner, Hazen, is a four-yearold German Shepherd from Slovakia who specializes in narcotics odor detection. Deputy Severance and his partners have assisted with many felony arrests over the years and recently apprehended two escaped prisoners after pursuing them across the state.
45
F E AT U R E D K- 9 U N I T : F R A N K L I N C O U N T Y ( O H ) S H E R I F F ’ S O F F I C E
Dep. Robert McKee & K-9 Gator Deputy Robert McKee is a 35-year veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and became a member of the FCSO Canine Unit in 2001. Deputy McKee is also a US Marine Corps Veteran. Deputy McKee has been the handler of four canines during his tenure and has been assigned in the past to several multi-jurisdiction task forces on the county and federal levels. He started his K-9 career with a bomb dog a month before the September 11 terrorist attacks and has since had three drug detection dogs. Deputy McKee had one of three explosive detection dogs at the time in our county; the other two also being assigned to other FCSO K-9 deputies. Later, while being assigned to the Homeland Security Task Force, he and his partners were responsible for over 17 million dollars in cash seizures and over 60 million dollars in illegal narcotics seizures. Deputy McKee and his partner were credited with the largest seizure of Fentanyl within the State of Ohio at the time a few years ago. His current partner, Gator, is an eight-year-old Blue Dutch Shepherd. Gator specializes in narcotic odor detection. Deputy McKee and Gator were also both featured on AE’s LivePD, Season 3.
Dep. Roderick Thorne & K-9 Diablo Deputy Roderick Thorne is a 23-year veteran of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and has been assigned to the Canine Unit for six years. His partner, Diablo, is an eight-year-old German Shepherd from Slovakia. Diablo is a dual-purpose canine with specialized training in explosives odor detection. Deputy Thorne and Diablo have assisted in apprehending many felony suspects during their time together as well as providing security and explosive sweeps for dignitaries and heads of state, all Ohio State University Buckeye football games, Columbus Crew Soccer games, events at Nationwide Arena, events held at the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton and the yearly PGA Memorial Golf Tournament. They were also both featured on AE’s LivePD, Season 3.
Dep. Zach Cooper & K-9 Indy
4 6 | policek9magazine.com
Deputy Zach Cooper is a 19-year veteran of the FCSO and the newest member of the FCSO K-9 Unit with two years of experience. His first canine partner, Turbo, was medically retired due to early onset of Wobbler’s Disease. His current partner, Indy, is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois who hails from Holland. Indy is a dual-purpose K-9, with specialized training in narcotics odor detection. Deputy Cooper was featured on AE’s LivePD, Season 3, while he was assigned to the FCSO Patrol Bureau.