Featured K-9 Unit: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office

November/December 2019 - ISSUE 77

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Featured K- 9 Unit Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

K-9 Advice & Opinion 8 Types of Canine Aggression

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FEATURED K-9 UNIT: HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE | K-9 UNIT

HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE K-9 UNIT

About the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was created on October 25, 1819 when the County of Hamilton was established. As the fourth largest Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee, their operations include 183 certified deputies, 161 sworn deputies and 90 civilian staff personnel. In addition to their traditional patrol and corrections operations, they boast numerous specialty divisions and units to include, but certainly

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not limited to, SWAT, K-9, Hostage Negotiation, Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones), Marine Patrol, Forensic Divers, Criminal Investigations, CBRNE, Forensics, Honor Guard, School Resource Officers, Traffic and Property and Evidence.

For 200 years, the men and women of the Hamilton County Sheriff ’s Office have provided consistent law enforcement operations throughout Hamilton County. From a bygone era of mounted deputies on horseback crisscrossing wagon trails to the use of modern technology and state-of-the-art vehicles, their deputies continue to honor their agency’s rich history and uphold the legacy and traditions of those who proudly served before.

VISION – To become “THE PREMIER LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN TENNESSEE” through the pursuit of professional excellence and partnerships with our community maintaining a high quality of life through collaborative problem solving.

MISSION STATEMENT –

“Commitment to Excellence for All Citizens with Fair and Equitable Performance”

About Hamilton County

For 200 years, the men and women of the HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE have provided consistent law enforcement operations throughout Hamilton County.

1819 year established 183 certified deputies 161 sworn deputies

90 civilian staff personnel 336,000 residents 576 mi² area covered

Named after the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton County has now grown to be the fourth largest county in Tennessee.

Nestled in the beautiful, scenic Tennessee Valley, Hamilton County has a rich history steeped with tradition and Native American heritage. In 1819, the creation of Hamilton County was made possible by a treaty signed with the indigenous Cherokee Indians who lived in this area in 1817.

Before 1819, the area to become Hamilton County was a prosperous trading post recognized as the center of the Cherokee Nation.

In modern times, Hamilton County boasts a population of over 336,000 people and encompasses an area of 576 square miles. Interestingly enough, Hamilton County, Tennessee is one of the few counties in the United States to border ten counties. Named after the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton County has now grown to be the fourth largest county in Tennessee.

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FEATURED K-9 UNIT: HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE | K-9 UNIT

Deputy Cole Stevens and Nero participating in a training exercise

History of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit In 1988, the Hamilton County Sheriff ’s Office fielded the agency’s first K-9. The canine was handled by a Detective in the Narcotics Enforcement Division (currently Narcotics and Special Operations Division) and was only utilized to detect narcotics.

For several years, the Narcotics Division maintained and deployed the HCSO’s canines.

ON TRAINING:

After seeing the continued successes made by the initial K-9 deployment, the decision was made to expand the unit. Throughout the years since its inception, the HCSO K-9 Unit has made a powerful impact on law enforcement operations in Hamilton County in a variety of ways.

The HCSO K-9 Unit is one of the most visible and respected K-9 Units in operation in

It was decided the HCSO K-9 Unit would mirror the training philosophy of the Department of Homeland Security Customs & Border Protections Canine Program.

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Tennessee and is regularly called on by surrounding local municipalities and counties for assistance in times of need.

Training Philosophy

Since its early beginnings, the size and training philosophy of the HCSO’s canine program has changed exponentially.

The Canine Unit is now under the HCSO Law Enforcement Division. The unit was created by Deputy Chief Mark King (then Captain) with guidance from prior K-9 Trainer, Sergeant Hank Ritter. It was decided the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit would use a similar training philosophy to that of the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protections Canine Program.

(L-R) HCSO K-9 Deputies Cole Stevens and Sergeant Mark Williams conduct a long leash search with Tynne in a wooded area

Who We Are

The Polizeispuerhundpruefung or “PSP” training philosophy was brought to America in the 1980’s by a select group of K-9 instructors from across the United States. The HCSO Canine Unit currently has three certified police service dogs.

Daily Operations

The HCSO’s K-9 Unit has made great strides in criminal interdiction and much of the unit’s success has come from being an invaluable resource and asset in the region for both canine operations and training. The daily operations consist of front line law enforcement by interdiction of the criminal element to face prosecution. This is done using specialized training in detection of criminals, criminal behavior and the use of canines.

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FEATURED K-9 UNIT: HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE | K-9 UNIT K-9 operations are used in a variety of daily law enforcement activities from SWAT and fugitive apprehension operations to drug interdiction and support. The HCSO K-9 Unit is called on regularly to assist agencies including the DEA, ATF, FBI, US Marshals Service, IRS, United States Secret Service and other local and regional law enforcement agencies. The HCSO Canine Unit is also a regional leader in training by supporting numerous agencies in the maintenance training of other agency police service dogs.

ON TRAINING: The Polizeispuerhundpruefung or “PSP” training philosophy was brought to America

in the 1980’s by a select group of K-9 instructors from across the United States.

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LEFT: (L-R) Deputy Andrew Voss and Nero conduct a search of a vehicle on Interstate 75

TOP RIGHT: Seized Assets: Money, prescrip-

tion drugs and firearms seized during a traffic stop by K-9 personnel

BOTTOM RIGHT: Nero participating in a training exercise

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FEATURED K-9 UNIT: HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE | K-9 UNIT

The HCSO K-9 Unit and its trainer, Deputy Andrew Voss, regularly support our local and regional law enforcement K-9 programs by offering weekly joint maintenance training. Maintenance training can include detection, obedience, patrol work, tracking and evidence location. Deputy Voss also offers specialized troubleshooting needed to assist with problem solving.

Community Involvement and Public Relations

The HCSO K-9 Unit is one of the most visible and requested units to participate in local

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community events. Each year,

schools and daycares and par-

the annual Paws in the Park and other public venues where the canines are asked to participate.

Local children and school

Moving Forward

K-9 Unit personnel visit several take in numerous public events. groups are particularly fond of the unit and thoroughly enjoy learning about the K-9s and

what they do on a daily basis.

Much of the unit’s public ac-

tivities include opportunities to

showcase the skills and training of both the handler and the ca-

nine in scenario-based exercises designed to help our communi-

ty understand their role and use in law enforcement operations.

Some of these events include

The HCSO Canine Unit’s success has paved the way for the addition of several more canine teams in the future to keep up with the need and demand for HCSO canines.

The HCSO K-9 Unit continues to be a highly valuable resource and asset for law enforcement operations in Hamilton County.

Each day, K-9 Unit personnel support our agency’s mission and help serve and protect the citizens of our community.

SERGEANT MARK WILLIAMS & K-9 TYNNE The unit is commanded by Sergeant Mark Williams, who handles a Hanoverian Hound named Tynne. Tynne’s primary task is tracking.

Tynne is deployed to locate lost hikers, missing and endangered people and fleeing suspects. Tynne is credited with multiple successful finds, leading to the arrest and prosecution of suspects.

DEPUTY ANDREW VOSS & K-9 NERO The unit trainer is Deputy Andrew Voss, a PSP Instructor, who handles a Belgian Malinois named Nero. Andrew is also a member of the HCSO SWAT Team. Nero is a multipurpose canine used in tracking, apprehension, narcotics detection and evidence location. Nero is credited with numerous successful tracks, physical and non-physical apprehensions and large quantities of narcotic seizures and drug proceeds.

DEPUTY COLE STEVENS & K-9 CIBO Deputy Cole Stevens handles a Belgian Malinois named Cibo.

Cibo is a multipurpose canine also used in tracking, narcotics detection and evidence location. Cibo is credited with numerous large quantities of narcotic seizures, drug proceeds and successful tracks. Deputy Cole is also a member of the HCSO SWAT Team.

DEPUTY DANNY STONE & K-9 TYNNE Deputy Danny Stone assists Sergeant Williams and the K-9 Unit with tracking support operations.

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FEATURED K-9 UNIT: HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE | K-9 UNIT

ANNUAL UNIT STATISTICS AUGUST 2018-AUGUST 2019

HEROIN SEIZED: 10,009.36 grams METH SEIZED: 6,735.04 grams CASH SEIZED: $84,411.00 COCAINE SEIZED: 291.96 grams MARIJUANA SEIZED: 9,250.25 grams GUNS SEIZED: 21 NARCOTIC SNIFFS: 741 sniffs VEHICLE SNIFFS: 169 sniffs LOCKERS SNIFFED: 3,840 lockers TRACKS: 35 BACKPACK SNIFFS: 425 ARRESTS: 69 K-9 TRAINING: 569 hours COURT: 71 hours ASSIST ANOTHER DIVISION : 233 each ASSIST ANOTHER AGENCY : 177 each CALL OUTS: 37 times CRIMINAL APPREHENSIONS (BITES): 2 each

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(L-R) Deputy Cole Stevens & Cibo and Deputy Andrew Voss conduct a search and track for a wanted felon through a neighborhood.

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