Orleans Sheriff’s Office buys new K-9 with community donations

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2016 at 11:03 am
Provided photo: Otto will arrive next week and will soon begin training with Jeff Cole, and Orleans County sheriff's deputy.

Provided photo: Otto will arrive next week and will soon begin training with Jeff Cole, an Orleans County sheriff’s deputy.

ALBION – A flood of community donations has more than paid for a new K-9 to join the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

The County Legislature last week approved spending $8,500 for a German Shepherd from Upstate K-9 in Hilton. The dog named Otto is 2 years old and has been trained in Holland. Otto is due to arrive Oct. 13 at the Buffalo airport.

He will join handler Jeff Cole, a deputy at the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office the past decade. Cole and Otto will receive training together in tracking, obedience, article searches, criminal apprehension, as well as drug detection. Cole said the dog could be in service, at the earliest, on Feb. 1.

The Sheriff’s Office has received $9,465 in donations so far, with a $2,500 grant from the Walmart Community Grants Team the biggest donation. But Cole said many residents and businesses have donated to allow the Sheriff’s Office to move forward in acquiring the dog.

“It shows how much the community cares,” Cole said today.

The donations beyond the $8,500 cost for the dog will go towards equipment and training for the K-9 unit.

Cole said Otto will be an asset for local law enforcement for patrols and for narcotics detection.

“He is a phenomenal dog,” Cole said. “We’re very fortunate we were able to get him. A lot of other police departments wanted him.”

Those wishing to donate to the K-9 unit should make checks payable to the “Orleans County Treasurer” with a notation in the memo portion “For Sheriff K-9 Fund.” Checks should be mailed to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, 13925 State Route 31,Suite 400, Albion, NY 14411.