K9 Odin joins the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 December 2024 at 11:10 am

Jeff Cole will continue as handler following Otto’s retirement

Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Cole, left in front, and Sheriff Chris Bourke introduce Odin, a Belgian Malinois, to county legislators during Tuesday’s Legislature meeting.

Jeff Cole introduces Odin to county legislators and officials on Tuesday. Odin has been trained for tracking and searches, and soon will be certified for drug detection.

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department has welcomed Odin, a K9 that is already trained in tracking and searches. Odin will finish his certification later this month for drug detection.

Odin, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, is paired with K9 handler Jeff Cole. Odin has been in a narcotics detection school the past 10 weeks at the City of Rochester. Odin has been working with Cole the past 3 months.

The dog is from Holland and was imported by Upstate K-9 Boarding Kennels in Hilton.

Cole worked with the Sheriff’s Department’s previous K9, Otto. That dog retired after 8 ½ years in August.

Odin was paid for through community donations and a forfeiture account from the District Attorney’s Office.

Sheriff Bourke said Odin and Cole will be available to assist other departments in the county and in neighboring counties when needed.

“It’s a great asset to the Sheriff’s Department to have a K9 available,” he told county legislators.