K9 Unit

K9 Group Photo

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Canine Unit was started in 1981 and has evolved since its inception. The Department fields six canine teams which are assigned to the patrol division. Our patrol canine teams consist of German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador Retrievers.

Four of the canine teams are trained in suspect apprehension. These canines are utilized in area searches, building searches, tracking, and handler protection. These teams are cross-trained in either article or narcotics detection. The other two canine teams are trained exclusively for narcotics detection. Each canine team is on-call 24 hours a day to assist as necessary.

The canine teams have been successfully utilized in the apprehension of armed and violent criminals, the location of hidden narcotics, and the discovery of crime-related evidence. The canine teams also perform educational demonstrations at local schools and other community events. The K9 unit is one of the elite units within the Sheriff's Office.

image of canine image of canine and officer

image of canine and officer image of officer and canine in front of helocopter

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