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 Rusty Cuthbertson; he can be contacted directly to request demonstrations or questions about our K-9 operation.

Deputy Stoop:
Master Deputy stoop has served the Sheriff’s Office since 2008 and joined the K-9 unit in 202. He is partnered with Barry, a Dutch Shepherd from K2 Solutions in Southern Pines, North Carolina. They completed a six week training school and received their certification in Patrol/Narcotics from the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA). They have also certified in Patrol/Narcotics with the United Police Work Dog Association (UPWDA).

Deputy Beckham:
Deputy Beckham has been assigned to the K9 unit since March 2015. He has worked 2 patrol/narcotic K9s and is in the process of selecting his next partner. Deputy Beckham and K9 Ares were trained as a team through Shallow Creek Kennels, Inc. in March 2015. At the completion of Shallow Creek’s 6 week course they were certified as a team through the North American Police Work Dog Association and later through the United Police Work Dog Association. Deputy Beckham and K9 Atos were trained as a team through K2 Solutions, Inc. in November 2016. At the completion of K2 Solution’s 5 week course they were certified as a team through the International Police Work Dog Association and later through the United Police Work Dog Association. *Currently Deputy Beckham does not have an assigned K9.

Deputy Elmendorf:
Deputy Edward Elmendorf joined the K-9 Unit in 2017 and was paired with Nilz, a German Shepard from Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. Deputy Elmendorf and Nilz attended K2 Solutions in Southern Pines, North Carolina and completed a very intense six-week training school and received their certification in Patrol/Narcotics. Deputy Elmendorf and Nilz were certified with the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA). Nilz retired in 2020 and was adopted by Deputy Elmendorf. Deputy Elmendorf is now paired with K-9 Eros, a three year old German Shepard from K2 Solutions in Southern Pines, NC. Deputy Elmendorf and Eros went through a six week course and certified in Patrol/Narcotics with the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA) and United Police Work Dog Association (UPWDA).

Deputy Bledsoe:
Deputy Bledsoe has been with the K-9 unit since January of 2018 and is currently partnered with Sly, a Belgian Malinois from K2 Solutions in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Deputy Bledsoe and Sly completed a six-week training course at K2 Solutions in 2020 and received their certification in Patrol/Narcotics from the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA). Deputy Bledsoe and K9 Sly are also certified in Patrol/Narcotics through the United Police Work Dog Association (UPWDA).

Explosive Handlers

Deputy Sage: 
Deputy Sage has been with the K-9 unit since 2018 and is partnered with JoJo, a Labrador Retriever trained to find the odor of explosives. Deputy Sage and JoJo completed an intense four week training course and certified with the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA) in explosives. Since then, JoJo has held duel certifications with (IPWDA) and (UPWDA) United Police Working Dog Association.

Deputy Tuomey:
Deputy Tuomey has been a K-9 handler since 2020 and is partnered with Aggie, a Labrador Retriever trained to find the odor of explosives. Deputy Tuomey and Aggie completed an intense four-week training course and certified with the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA) in explosives. Deputy Tuomey and Aggie are also certified with the United Police Work Dog Association (UPWDA) in explosives.

CONTACT INFORMATION
The Canine Unit Supervisor: Captain R. Cuthbertson
Office: 980-314-5982