The New York State Police held a graduation ceremony last Wednesday for the Canine Handler Basic School. The ceremony was held at the New York State Police Academy in Albany.
A total of 12 canine teams graduated from the State Police, as well as one from the Oswego Police Department and one from the Orchard Park Police Department.
The canines and their handlers underwent 20 weeks of training at the New York State Police Canine Training Facility located in Cooperstown, New York. During the training, students and their partners received instruction in basic obedience, agility, handler protection, building searches, explosive or narcotic detection, tracking for fugitives and lost or missing persons, basic veterinary care and land navigation and grid searches.
The current strength of the State Police Canine Unit is 85 teams, including those who graduated.
The New York State Police Source professionally bred working dogs from exclusive, overseas kennels which results in only the top-tier Police Canines being added to the unit.
State Police canines are named after members who have died in the line of duty.
The following is a full list of the graduating handlers, their canines, namesakes, and assigned Troops:
Trooper Justin Stevens, Canine Perkins, Trooper Charles W. Perkins – Troop B https://troopers.ny.gov/perkins
Trooper Connor Cornine, Canine Snyder, Investigator Richard B. Snyder – Troop F https://troopers.ny.gov/snyder
Trooper Eric Wellington, Canine Van, Investigator Robert L. VanHall, Jr. – Troop E https://troopers.ny.gov/van
Trooper Gregory Egloff, Canine Vin, Trooper Alvin P. Kurdys – Troop T https://troopers.ny.gov/vin
Trooper Nicholas Molyneaux, Canine Wild, Trooper Carl T. Wilder – Troop K https://troopers.ny.gov/wild
Trooper Stephen Dellasala, Canine Arri, Sergeant Homer J. Harrison – Troop A https://troopers.ny.gov/arri
Trooper Robert Peluso, Canine Chase, Trooper Covel C. Pierce – Troop G https://troopers.ny.gov/chase
Trooper Alex Ando, Canine Corbett, Trooper Thomas L. Corbett – Troop A https://troopers.ny.gov/corbe
Trooper Frank Casillo, Canine Gallo, Trooper Joseph J. Gallagher – Troop L https://troopers.ny.gov/gallo
Trooper Shane Jones, Canine Hedges, Trooper Richard L. Hedges – Troop C https://troopers.ny.gov/hedges
Trooper Joseph Turoski, Canine J, Trooper Jon M. Grassia III – Troop T https://troopers.ny.gov/j
Trooper Kaitlyn Lopez, Canine Lake, Trooper Lawrence W. Lakeman –Troop E https://troopers.ny.gov/lake
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