K9 Program

Background:

The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office has a long history of using Police K9’s as a tool to assist Deputies. The First K9 was purchased by the Sheriff’s Office in 1988 and was assigned to, then, Deputy Glenn Wilson. Deputy Wilson and his German Shepherd Partner, Powlden, were just the start of what would turn out to be a very valuable asset to the Sheriff’s Office and the community.

Over the next two decades the Sheriff’s Office would maintain their K9 program with just one K9 for the agency.  In 2010 Sheriff Mark Mitchell saw the need to grow the program in assisting Deputies in their fight in the war on crime. Sheriff Mitchell applied for a Grant, which then gave the Sheriff’s Office the ability to add a much needed second Police K9 to the agency. To date the agency still maintains two trained and certified Police K9’s to serve Clinton County.

Clinton County Police K9s are nationally certified though the North American Police Work Dog Association. K9s and their handler must pass re-certifications every year and must train a minimum of 16 hrs a month. Clinton County Police K9s are used in various different areas of Law Enforcement. They are trained and certified in narcotics detection, article search/evidence recovery, area and building searches for subjects resisting arrest, suspect tracking, handler protection, obedience, and aggression control.

The Sheriff’s Office began tracking K9 usage statistics in February 2006.  Since then, our K9s have been deployed to assist close to 1800 times, resulting in nearly 400 arrests.

Meet the K9s and their Handlers.

K9 Gunny and Sergeant Joey Mitchell

Sgt Mitchell has been a Sheriff Deputy since 2004 and a K9 handler since 2006.  Sgt Mitchell is currently the agency’s lead handler and is working on obtaining his certification through the NAPWDA as a Trainer. Sergeant Mitchell also serves as an FTO and night shift Supervisor.  Sgt Mitchell and K9 Gunny work closely with the Clinton County SWAT team, providing K9 support when needed in high risk situations. In his time within the K9 Division, Sgt Mitchell has had over 1,000 deployments with his K9 partners, resulting in nearly 300 arrests. Sgt Mitchell is currently working with his 3^rd K9 partner of his career, K9 Gunny.  K9 Gunny is a 2 year old Dutch Shepherd.  K9 Gunny was imported by FMK9 in Niles, Michigan, where he received his initial training.  K9 Gunny is a Dual Purpose certified Police K9 and is very eager to work every day.

K9 Chase and Lieutenant Ryan Ashlock

Lieutenant Ashlock has been a Sheriff Deputy since 2009 and a K9 handler since 2010.  An experienced handler himself, Lieutenant Ashlock currently pulls double duty handling a Police K9 and commanding A squad Patrol.  Lieutenant Ashlock is also an FTO and is working with his second K9 partner of his K9 career.  During his time in the K9 unit, Lieutenant Ashlock has deployed his K9 partners over 600 times, resulting in 100 arrests.  K9 Chase is a 4 year old German Shepherd.  K9 Chase was imported by FM K9 in Niles, Michigan, where he too received his initial training.  K9 Chase is a Dual purpose certified Police K9 and is also very eager to come to work every day.