The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, formed in 1999, currently has 16 K9 officers and 13 handlers.
Twelve of those dogs are all-purpose narcotics dogs, two of them are explosive dogs and one is an arson dog.
Recommended Videos
According to the sheriff’s office, all of the dogs are trained in article searches, tracking, building searches, obedience and handler protection.
Meet some of the dogs and their handlers:
Deputy Christopher Topacio and Mordus
Deputy Christopher Topacio and his partner Mordus, a 4-year-old Dutch shepherd from the Netherlands, have been working together since they returned to the U.S. in April 2014. Mordus is certified in drug detection and patrol work.
Topacio has been a deputy with Oakland County for over 25 years and with the K-9 unit for 18 years. He is also one of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office master trainers.
Deputy Christopher Cadotte and Odin
Deputy Christopher Cadotte and Odin have been partners for a year and a half. Odin's certified in drug detection and patrol work. Cadotte has been with OCSO for 18 years and with the K9 unit for one and a half years.
“It's the best job in law enforcement and it's very rewarding,” Cadotte said.
Deputy Robert Loken and Eiko and Lex
Eiko is an 8-year-old Dutch shepherd from Holland. He started in the OCSO K9 Unit in July 2011 after being trained through the Oakland Community College-Oakland Police K9 Academy. Eiko is trained in obedience, narcotics detection, tracking, criminal apprehension, area search, building search and evidence search.
Lex is a 3-year-old Dutch shepherd from Holland. He started in the OCSO K9 Unit in September 2014 after also being trained through the Oakland Community College-Oakland Police K9 Academy. Lex is trained in obedience and explosive detection.
Deputy Rodney White and Diago
Diago has been serving the OCSO since 2012. He is a patrol and narcotics K9 assigned to the road patrol.
When not working with Deputy Rodney White, Diago enjoys a never ending game of fetch.
Deputy Mike Richardson and Blitz
Blitz is a Dutch shepherd who was born in Holland in 2009. Deputy Mike Richardson trained Blitz from when he was a puppy, and he was certified to work when he was just over one year old. He started working with the OCSO in 2011 and is specialized in tracking and narcotics.
In September 2011, Blitz won the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers Narcotic Dog of the Year award.
Richardson said one of his most satisfying moments as a K9 handler was when Blitz found a woman with Alzheimer’s who had wandered away from her home and was suffering from the cold weather, lying in the snow. He said officers could not locate her, but with her scent, Blitz quickly did.
Deputy Mike Garrison and Paco
Paco is a 5-year-old Dutch shepherd. He is trained in obedience, tracking, narcotic detection in areas, buildings and vehicles and handler protection. He started working in November 2012.
“He is my partner and best friend and also a very large part of my family,” Deputy Mike Garrison said.
Fury
Fury is a future K9 officer who will be raised and trained through volunteer efforts in honor of Wayne State K9 Handler Sgt. Collin Rose, who was killed in the line of duty in November. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit's handlers and trainers are donating their training experience and time to help with this project to help honor Rose.
Fury is a 3-month-old German shorthair pointer who will be trained in obedience and explosive detection.