Meet Our K-9 Unit
The Summit County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit currently consists of seven dogs, with our adopted rescue K-9 Dottie in training to be our 8th.
Piper
K-9 Piper is paired with handler Deputy Cutlip. Piper is a black lab who came to us from a breeder in Wisconsin. She is an explosives detecting K-9 who works at the Akron-Canton Airport, accompanies our Bomb Squad on callouts, and performs sweeps at special events and venues throughout the county.
Nero
K-9 Nero is paired with Deputy Bowen. Nero is a black German Shepherd bred in Slovakia and trained by Excel K-9 in Hiram, Ohio. He is trained in tracking, article searches, building searches, narcotics detection, apprehension, and more. Nero and Deputy Bowen patrol the City of Green.
Taro
K-9 Taro is paired with Deputy Gary. Taro is a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix, and was also bred in Slovakia and trained at Excel K-9 in Hiram, Ohio. Deputy Gary and Taro are assigned to the Summit County Drug Unit, where they conduct special assignments, patrol throughout the county, and assist other agencies with narcotics cases.
Freddy
K-9 Freddy is paired with Deputy Woodyard. Freddy is a German Shepherd bred in Slovakia, and is trained in gun detection, tracking, article search, apprehension, and more. Freddy and Deputy Woodyard patrol and respond to calls throughout Summit County.
Marlo
K-9 Marlo is paired with Deputy Kemp. He is a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix from Slovakia, and is trained in tracking, article search, building search, narcotics detection, apprehension, and more. Marlo and Deputy Kemp patrol and respond to calls countywide.
Judge
K-9 Judge is paired with Deputy Monaco. Judge is a German Shepherd trained in explosives detection, apprehension, and tracking, and has won multiple medals in K-9 competitions across the nation. Judge came to us from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office after his handler was promoted.
Bolt
K-9 Bolt is paried with Deputy Ruggles. He is a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix who came from Excel K-9 in Hiram, Ohio. Bolt is trained in explosives detection and will assist the Bomb Squad.
Dottie
K-9 Dottie is making history as the Sheriff's Office's first rescue dog to be adopted and trained to be a K-9. She was adopted from Pawsitive Hope in North Canton by Captain Michelle Wiltrout and she is currently in training to become a narcotics detecting K-9. She is on the forefront of a pioneering approach of adopting and training shelter dogs to become law enforcement K-9s. You can read more about Dottie in this profile from Akron Life Magazine.