The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit:
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office K-9’s are assigned to the Field Operations Division and utilizes four multi-purpose dogs and two highly trained explosive detecting dogs. The purpose of the K-9 Unit is to provide the citizens of Mecklenburg County with highly trained and certified law enforcement dogs to detect explosives, apprehend fleeing suspects and detection of illegal drugs.
The multi-purpose patrol dogs are trained in multiple functions such as tracking, bite and apprehension, article, area and building search and narcotics detection of real drugs and illegal substances. The explosive detection dogs are specifically trained to detect the unique scent of different explosive materials. By the end of their training, explosive dogs can detect different combinations of explosive materials in trace samples and in bulk samples. We use these in and around the courthouse, government complex and throughout the city for large scale events at Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Arena, and the Convention Center just to name a few.
Each dog must be trained and certified and recertified annually in all trained skill sets. As handlers must be continuously trained in law enforcement, so must law enforcement dogs. Most of the training is conducted by the unit’s handlers and trainer on a continuous basis. The K-9 Unit also trains with other agencies and is often called for K-9 assistance by other local and Federal agencies.
Sheriff’s Office K-9 handlers are also required the maintain active memberships in Police K-9 Associations such as United Police Work Dog Association (UPWDA) to ensure best practices and ongoing training and recertifications are properly documented and maintained.
All Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office K-9’s lives at home with their handlers and families when off duty. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit Administrator is Captain Michael Matys; he can be contacted directly to request demonstrations or questions about our K-9 operation.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Canine Unit Supervisor: Captain Michael Matys’
Office: 980-314-5985