Jefferson County sheriff expected to introduce new K-9 team

Jefferson County Sheriff John P. Burns is expected to announce today that he has a new K-9 team ready for duty.

The sheriff has scheduled a press conference for 1 p.m. to “introduce the newest member of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to the citizens of the county.”

Mr. Burns declined Thursday to elaborate about his announcement. Since he never holds press conferences to announce the hiring of a new deputy, or a new civilian worker, the logical alternative is that training has been completed by a deputy sheriff and his new dog.

The department last May received a $50,000 grant from the state Department of Criminal Justice Services to buy a new dog, and arrangements were being made at the time with a distributor in Pennsylvania for a purchase. The goal specified at that time by the sheriff was to have a dog trained in narcotics detection, tracking and handler protection.

A month later, he confirmed he had a K-9 team in training. The handler was said to be Deputy Jeffrey M. Froelich, who has been with the department about three years.

The sheriff said in May the new dog would enable the department to retire Deputy Paul W. Trudeau’s dog, Bullet, at the end of the year. As it turned out, Bullet, who had been with the department since June 2004, had to be euthanized Nov. 30 after collapsing.

The department has two other K-9 teams: Deputy Shaun D. Cuddeback with his dog, Liberty, and Deputy Adam B. Hallett, handler of Nitro.