Sheriff's office to re-establish K-9 program

CELINA - This summer could truly bring the dog days to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.

The department is preparing a K-9 unit that could start operating this summer, sheriff Jeff Grey has announced. He plans to introduce one dog this year and add another in 2017.

The additions would the double current number of K-9 units in Mercer County. Celina and Coldwater police departments each have a dog. This summer would be the first time since 2012 the sheriff's office has had a K-9 unit.

The sheriff's office has received $28,750 in donations to purchase German shepherd K-9s, Grey said.

The total cost of a dog, including training, is about $11,500, Grey said.

Deputy Kevin Wynk, who has been with the sheriff's office for more than a year, has been chosen to handle the dog arriving this year. A handler has not been named for the dog that will arrive in 2017, he said.

Wynk, has looked forward to such an opportunity since his time in the police academy. He was introduced at the academy to K-9 work and has wanted to work with one since, he said.

"This is something that I've always wanted to do, and I'm grateful to do it. It's been kind of like a career goal of mine, and I'm thankful that the sheriff's office has given me this opportunity," Wynk said.

"He will take the dog home with him, but the dog is actually considered county property," Grey said.

Dogs have always been a big part of Wynk's home life and now will have a role in his work life, as well.

Wynk and a dog will train for six weeks at Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds in Wapakoneta this summer.

He will train the dog in obedience, which is the most important trait to master.

"The dog has to be able to listen because, if you get a call all of a sudden and things change, the dog needs to be able to follow commands. Otherwise, things could go real bad," Wynk said.

Wynk will also work with the dog on bite work, pursuing a fleeing suspect, tracking and narcotics detection

The dogs would also be trained to protect their handlers and detect illegal drugs except for marijuana.

Grey plans not to have the dogs trained to detect marijuana since it may become legal after future elections.

"It's easier to train a dog than to untrain it to do something," he said.

Grey stressed that marijuana-law enforcement will not change as long as it's illegal.

The sheriff's office would continue rely on a bomb-sniffing dog from Lima, and Grey also knows from whom he can borrow a cadaver-sniffing dog.

The K-9 cruiser would be a new Ford SUV. The Mercer County Commissioners have approved the about $25,000 vehicle purchase, but it has not yet arrived, Grey said.

Modification for a K-9 unit and other additions to a vehicle cost about $14,500. A cage would need to be installed on the rear passenger seats which would leave one seat open to transport an arrestee, Grey said.

Other modifications include automatic locks and doors that allow the dog to exit quickly to pursue fleeing suspects. An air-conditioning system will monitor the vehicle's interior temperature and send text notifications if the vehicle is too hot, Grey said.

The department will also have to pay for the animal's food and other annual expenses, Grey said.

A German shepherd this year would be the first in almost four years since Deputy Zak was found dead from apparent heat exhaustion in the back of a cruiser in August 2012.

The sheriff's office K-9 program had been re-established in 2007 with the acquisition of Deputy Bleck, also a German shepherd. Bleck died in August 2010 due to an intestinal obstruction. Then-deputy Chad Fortkamp was the handler for both dogs.

Grey realizes the office appears to not have the best track record when it comes, but he is optimistic the vehicle temperature system will reduce the chances of a repeat incident.

Grey asked deputies if they were interested in being part of a possible new K-9 unit, and Wynk stepped forward.

The working life of a dog is between seven and nine years. Having the two join the force in different years reduces the chances they will retire at the same time, Grey said

Grey believes enough illegal drugs are in the county to keep two K-9 units busy.

The sheriff's office has requested the help of the Celina and Coldwater units in the past, and Grey hopes the sheriff's office can return the favor with their own units.