The Hudson County Sheriff’s Office purchased 10 new vehicles: five K9 units and five new patrol cars, half of which were obtained through the Render Safe Grant.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I would like to thank Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Chairman of the Freeholder Board Anthony Vainieri, the Chairman of the County’s Public Safety Committee Anthony Romano, and the entire Freeholder Board for their continued support,†Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari said in a statement.
“Thanks to their leadership in providing our office with the equipment, training and personnel required the residents of Hudson County are better protected now than they have ever been, my officers and I will continue to proudly serve and protect all the people who live, work and travel in Hudson County.â€
The new K9’s were purchased via the Render Safe Grant and four of them are German Shepherds and will be trained in bomb and explosive detection and patrols. These four K9’s are expected to begin working during the early summer months, sheriff’s office spokesman J.P. Escobar.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office is adding a Bloodhound: the first in any law enforcement agency in Hudson County. This breed of dog is specifically known for their human tracking abilities.
While he will be used to track suspects, the Bloodhound will be tracked by a patrol K9 in these situations since they are not trained to bite and take down criminals.
Instead, the dog will be used to track missing persons, autistic children that have gone missing and elderly people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The K9 will be available for service by early May 2018, the department said.
Escobar added that the additions of these new K9’s bolsters the ranks of the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit to a total of seven K9’s. Five of them are trained in explosives and patrol, one in narcotics and one in tracking missing persons.
