Martin County Sheriff's Office
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Directed Operations Division - K-9 Unit

Lieutenant George Dempsey
(772) 220-7097

K9 Supervisor:
 Sergeant Kevin Gannon
(772) 320-4763



 Established in 1992, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit has been a leader in the Police K-9 field, setting the standard for Police and Sheriff’s Offices throughout the State and region. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office K-9 perform a variety of functions in support of field operations. The Deputies and their dogs conduct searches for narcotic, explosives, evidence and suspects.

Click here to learn more about the
K9 Foundation
 K9 Certificate

All of the Sheriff's Offices dogs are imported from Europe. The dogs are specially selected for their temperament, intelligence and suitability for Police work. The dogs and handlers receive an initial, intensive three month training.

 All canines are trained in accordance with the National Police Canine Association standards. Our service dog teams have been credited with apprehending numerous felons and recovering narcotic contraband. They also regularly conduct crime prevention demonstrations for civic organizations.
Currently, the six K-9 teams include  Sgt. Kevin Gannon and his dog Copper, D/S Kevin Fritchie and his dog Kawi, D/S Matt Fritchie and his dog Niko, D/S Pete Peterson and his dog Samson, D/S William Baker and his dog Bella, D/S Schaubel and his dog Ronin.

In addition to the patrol dog teams, the K-9 unit also utilizes two bloodhounds, Copper and Bella, specially trained for tracking.