New York State Police graduated 14 officers from K-9 school in Albany on Thursday.

The k-9's and their handlers underwent 20 weeks of training at the State Police facility in Cooperstown where they were instructed in basic obedience, handler training, building searches, explosive and narcotic detection, tracking for fugitives and lost or missing persons, basic veterinary care and land navigation and grid searches.

The State Police Canine Unit currently has 81 teams, including those who graduated today. During the first 10 months of 2014 the members of the Division Canine Unit responded to 3,150 calls for service. This class of handlers and their canines will go on patrol starting the week of November 24.

Locally, Trooper Jeffrey Kissock from Troop D in Oneida graduated with his K-9 Ray and Madison County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Feola completed the training with his K-9 Marty.

Madison County Sheriff's Office
Madison County Sheriff's Office
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All canines that are part of the Division Canine Unit are donated through the generosity of breeders, private individuals, and humane societies.  All canines are put through extensive testing and evaluation prior to assignment in the Canine Basic Handler’s School.

State Police canines are named after members killed in the line of duty.

  • Trooper James T Egan, SP Malone, Canine Leo - Troop A (Arthur L. Lacroix)
  • Trooper Robert P. Turnbull, SP Owego, Canine Diff - Troop C (Arthur Diffendale)
  • Trooper Jeffrey S. Kissock, SP Elbridge, Canine Ray - Troop D (Raymond A. Plunkett)
  • Trooper Christopher B. Braun, SP Auburn, Canine Tre - Troop E (Tremain M. Hughes)
  • Trooper Thomas J. McDonnell, SP Wayland, Canine Mic - Troop E (Charles M. McGinn)
  • Trooper Kenneth R. Zeigler, SP Ellenville, Canine Reegen - Troop F (Stanley C. Greene)
  • Trooper Casey E. Krul, SP Northway, Canine Frey - Troop G (John Frey)
  • Trooper Anthony J. Santoro, SP Wilton, Canine Hurley - Troop G (William H. Curley)
  • Trooper Ryan L. Edmundson, SP Livingston, Canine Lord – Troop K (John G. Lord)
  • Trooper Meredith W. Govoni, SP Somers, Canine Lexy – Troop K (Alexander E. Boehm)
  • Trooper William R. Canning, SP Brentwood, Canine E.J. – Troop L (Edward J. Sweeney)
  • C.O. Louis J. Fedele, Canine Uris – NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (No namesake)
  • Deputy Kevin S. Feola, Canine Marty - Madison County Sheriff’s Office (No namesake)
  • Officer Jeremy R. Rushkoski, Canine Miky – Saugerties Police Department (No namesake)

Watch a video of K-9 training below:

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