Since 2002, New York State Parks and Historic Sites have been proudly protected by a team of four-legged officers and their handlers. The K-9 program commenced in 2002 with two K-9 teams trained in explosive detection stationed on Long Island. The team expanded from there, adding four more K-9 teams stationed in the Niagara and Saratoga-Capital District Regions, and in the Hudson Valley, all primarily trained for finding explosive devices. This inaugural generation served with distinction until 2014, marked by the retirement of K-9 Chase from the Palisades Region.

The K-9 force is larger and more diverse than ever today, with six K-9 teams throughout New York. The police dogs range in breeds and specialties, serving not only the State Parks system but the communities they live in, often being called in to help at large events and to find missing people. There is no typical day for a K-9 team. One day, they could be patrolling a park, and the next, tracking down perpetrators. Regardless of their task, they are well-prepared with each new pup undergoing extensive training to ensure they can handle whatever comes their way. Training ranges from explosive detection, search and rescue, tracking, and other disciplines well-suited for this unique breed of officer.

However, each pup is only half of the team. Their handler, a New York State Park Police Officer, is specially trained to work with K-9s and they must work in sync to be successful. Many of the handlers can only describe the relationship they build with their K-9 companions as “special” and their passion for their partners is clear. These teams work and live with each other every day. When not at work, these pups live life much like any other dog would, living at home with their handlers and their families, relaxing, playing, and receiving plenty of pets.

Let‘s dive into the biographies and backgrounds of each of these canine crimefighters, highlighting their unique personalities and showcasing some of the amazing things they have done to make the our state parks safer.

K-9 Kairos

Handler: PO Aleska McCumber
Age: 1 year old
Breed: German Shorthaired Pointer
Specialty: Explosive Detection
Region: Long Island

K-9 Kairos is a German Shorthaired Pointer originally from Greece. Selected on April 6, 2023, to join the New York State Park Police (NYSPP) team, Kairos proudly graduated from Bomb Detection School on June 16 of that year. Despite being new, his drive is not to be underestimated. His favorite thing is to go to work and “find” bombs.

Fun fact: When he isn’t protecting the parks, Kairos enjoys agility work, running, long hikes in the woods, and playing in the water. He looks forward to a dedicated career filled with toy rewards and lots of belly rubs.

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K-9 Sadie

Handler: PO Fred Mannocchi
Age: 9 years old
Breed: Bloodhound
Specialty: Tracking and Trailing
Region: Hudson Valley (Taconic)

Sadie was acquired by her future handler Fred Mannocchi in the summer of 2014 at just three months old from a breeder in western Pennsylvania. At the end of September 2014, K-9 Sadie started her official training with Fred. After approximately three months of training, they became certified by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services as a tracking and trailing K-9 team. On December 31, 2014, K-9 Sadie began her career with the NYSPP. Sadie is an extremely friendly and happy girl, and while most K-9s work for a treat or reward of some type, Sadie just wants pets and praise. She will not eat or take any treats after working a track, which is unheard of in the K-9 world.

At the beginning of February 2015, Sadie was called to her first outside agency job. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was searching for an autistic boy who had been missing for nine hours in freezing temperatures. Many other K-9s tried finding the boy before Sadie and PO Mannocchi arrived, but failed to do so. Being a bloodhound, Sadie had an advantage over the other dogs, and at a little after midnight, K-9 Sadie started her track. After pre-scenting Sadie with a pillowcase that the missing boy used the day before, Sadie detected his scent and started tracking him. Sadie tracked approximately two miles into the woods and at  2 a.m., she found the missing boy! The boy was unable to walk. For her efforts in the saving the boy’s life, Sadie received a commendation from the Sherriff of Putnam County.

Fun Fact: Sadie’s favorite toy is a large squeaking tennis ball.

Bonus Fun Fact:  Sadie’s sisters are also police tracking K-9s, working for Pennsylvania State Police and a Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania.

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K-9 Arno

Handler: PO Michael Cali
Age: 2 years old
Breed: German Shepherd
Specialty: Explosive Detection
Region: Western NY (Niagara)

Arno, a German Shepherd from Hungary, completed explosive detection school with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office in October 2023. He is named in honor of Buffalo firefighter Jason Arno, who died battling a blaze on Buffalo’s Main Street in March 2023. Good-natured and hardworking, Arno is a favorite at the station and within the community. He has already located two firearms early in his career.

Fun fact: Arno is the newest K-9.

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K-9 Niko

Handler: PO Kevin Cramer
Age: 7.5 years old
Breed: German Shepherd
Specialty: Explosive Detection, Handler Protection and Tracking
Region: Western NY (Niagara)

K-9 Niko is a German Shepherd assigned to the NYSPP Western District, Niagara Zone.  K-9 Niko is partnered with Officer Kevin Cramer and is stationed in Niagara Falls. 

Niko was born on March 7, 2015. Receiving his initial training in explosive detection, Niko was additionally trained in handler protection and tracking in 2020.  Niko has served New York State Parks and the surrounding communities of Western New York for the past 7.5 years.  Throughout his career, K-9 Niko has been credited with tracking missing people, locating evidence, and giving lots of kisses to those he meets. 

K-9 Niko and his partner routinely conduct pre-event explosive sweeps at Niagara Falls State Park, large indoor and outdoor concert venues, and other high-profile events.

Fun Fact: Niko likes to spend his down time chasing his ball and begging for snacks.  

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K-9 Travers

Handler: PO Jonathan Luke
Age: 8 years old
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Specialty: Explosive Detection, Tracking, Patrol, and Article Search
Region: Capital (Saratoga)

K-9 Travers is an eight-year-old Belgian Malinois. The name Travers comes from the Travers Stakes horse race, which is held every summer at the Saratoga Racetrack, about a mile from Saratoga Spa State Park. The K-9 Travers was born in Hungary on April 25, 2015 and was almost 16 months old when he was purchased from Shallow Creek Kennels in Pennsylvania to be an Explosive Detection K-9 for the Mid-State/Saratoga District.

K-9 Travers and  PO Jonathan Luke completed a 12-week explosive detection school with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and in January of 2017 were certified as a K-9 Tracking Team. They have worked many large events, including the World University Games in Lake Placid, the Jones Beach Air Show, the Troy Turkey Trot, sweeps for protests in Troy and Saratoga Springs, and the concerts at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which is the team’s main area of responsibility. In May of 2020 they certified as a Patrol/Tracking /Article Search Team with the Troy Police K-9 School.

K-9 Travers’ career highlight was when they assisted the City of Saratoga Springs with tracking known gang members who  ran on foot after crashing their vehicle into a fence when fleeing from an attempted traffic stop. When tracking the suspects, K-9 Travers stopped on a dime and sat down in a wooded area with lots of brush and vines. While checking to see why K-9 Travers stopped so abruptly, PO Luke noticed a black handgun on the ground directly in front of him. One suspect was taken into custody and an illegal handgun taken off the street.

Fun Fact: K-9 Travers’ favorite food is any kind of human food, preferably steak, and he loves to be with people and get his belly rubbed.

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K-9 Bax

Handler: PO Steven LoDolce
Age: 9 years old
Breed: German Shepherd
Specialty: Explosive Detection, Evidence Recovery
Region: Long Island

Bax is a German Shepherd who was born on July 11, 2015 in the Czech Republic. Bax has been in service with the NYSPP alongside Police Officer Steven LoDolce in the Long Island Region as an Explosives Detection Canine since February of 2017. Along with explosives detection, Bax also works evidence recovery and conducts demonstrations for park patrons of all ages.

Bax is an integral part in ensuring the safety of park patrons at large scale events across Long Island. Bax has completed explosive sweeps prior to the start of every Jones Beach Airshow, Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater concert and Fourth of July Fireworks at Jones Beach since 2017.

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In Loving Memory: K-9 Teo

Passed away on July 25 2023, Age 10
Breed: German Shepherd
Specialty: Explosive Detection
Region: Western NY (Niagara)

K-9 Teo passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Teo began his career with Park Police in 2014, and went directly into Explosive Detection training, certifying on October 3, 2014. Since then, K-9 Teo was a trustworthy and loyal partner to his handler, Michael Cali.

K-9 Teo and Officer Cali protected millions of visitors to Niagara Falls and Artpark concerts, as well as attendees at Buffalo Bills games and other events across the state. They were often asked by other departments to help search for hidden firearms used in crimes. During Teo’s tenure, they found eight firearms. In 2019, K-9 Teo also became the first Park Police K-9 to become patrol certified and was credited with six apprehensions.

— Written by Ryan Percy, Community Engagement Coordinator, Saratoga-Capital Region