Canine Unit
The Sheriff's K-9 Unit consists of five tracking teams and two canine teams dedicated to narcotics detection.
The tracking dogs are trained to locate, follow, and alert on fresh human scent, which includes suspects who have walked or run away from crime scenes or who have barricaded themselves in a building or house. The canines are also trained to protect the handler and to hold a violent or dangerous person from escaping. The K-9 Unit members are on-call 24-hours a day.
Prior to being deployed as a canine team, each handler and canine must complete a minimum of 400 hours of basic training and pass the Oregon Police Canine Association Standards. These standards are demonstrated annually. Additionally, each team trains weekly to maintain proficiency.
The K-9 Unit also participates in dozens of public demonstrations every year. The canines are a crowd favorite and usually steal the hearts of adults and children. To request a canine demonstration, please contact Sergeant Steve Brown at (503) 846-5956.
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Deputy Micah AkinDeputy Micah Akin joined the Sheriff's Office in 2005 and became the newest member of the K9 Unit in August of 2012. His partner, Stark, is a male Belgian Malinois/Shepherd. Stark's temperment and drive will make him a likely candidate for narcotic detection work in the near future. |
Corporal James CuthbertsonCorporal Cuthbertson began his career with the Sheriff's Office Jail in 1996 and transferred to the Patrol Division in January of 1999. His K-9 partner is "Zurg". Zurg is a German Shepherd Dog who was imported from Czech Republic and holds a Schutzhund 1 title. Deputy Cuthbertson and Zurg completed their 400-hour K-9 Handler School in March 2007, and immediately went to work. |
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Deputy Dan DiPietroDeputy Dan DiPietro joined the Sheriff's Office in 2006 and became a member of the K-9 Unit in 2010. Deputy DiPietro's four-legged partner is "Maverick", a German Shepherd dog. Together they trained in 2010 as specialists in narcotics detection. Maverick is an aggresive alert dog, which means that he will either scratch, bite, or bark at an odor of narcotics when he alerts. Together they trained in 2010 as specialists in narcotics detection. |
Corporal Kevin FigueroaCorporal Figueroa is a seasoned K-9 handler and an Oregon Police Canine Association trainer and instructor. He was initially hired in 1998 as a Corrections Deputy in the Jail Division; he transferred to the Patrol Division in 2000. Corporal Figueroa has had two K-9 partners, including his current partner "Vasko". Corporal Figueroa and Vasko completed the 400-hour K-9 School in 2010. |
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Deputy Ryan GarrickDeputy Garrick came to work at the Sheriff's Office in 2004 and became a certified canine handler in January 2009 with his partner "Hudson". Hudson was purchased by the Sheriff's Office as a two-year-old German Shepherd imported from the Slovak Republic. Deputy Garrick and Hudson are excited to work the road and track and locate criminals. |
Deputy Pete OlsonDeputy Olson joined the Sheriff's Office in 1998 before joining the Patrol Division's canine team in August 2009. Deputy Olson's K-9 partner, "Tau", is a 2-year-old purebred Belgian Malinois, imported from the Czech Republic. Having completed a 240-hour narcotics detection training course, Tau's primary job is to detect and find illegal narcotics. Deputy Olson and Tau work directly with drug enforcement agencies serving the Portland Metropolitan area. |
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Deputy Kent WimberleyDeputy Wimberley joined the Sheriff's Office in 1999 as a deputy in our Jail Division before transferring to the Patrol Division. He has been a canine handler since 2004 and his partner, "Sig", has been a trained police K-9 since 2005. Deputy Wimberley and Sig officially hit the road as a new team in January 2009; this team is also specially trained to deploy as members of the Countywide Tactical Operations Team (SWAT). |
