New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Law Enforcement is set to graduate three new K-9 police dogs who will help preserve, protect, and enhance the state's fish, wildlife, and environment. The dogs will help find illegally taken fish and wildlife, locate spent shell casings during criminal investigations, and work to track and locate environmental law offenders. In addition to environmental police duties, the dogs are often called upon to help other agencies across the state in everyday police work. DEC’s K-9s assist in the apprehension of game violators and are trained to detect a variety of wildlife species, such as venison, black bear, wild turkey, trout, bass, and perch.

WHO:  ECO Chris DeRose and K-9 “Cramer”
           ECO  Vern Bauer and K-9 “Woods”
           ECO Fay Fuerch and K-9 “Handley”

WHAT:  The newest class of DEC’s K-9 unit will graduate from training academy and begin serving  across the state.

(Visuals: Sgt. Keith Isles, K-9 Unit Program Coordinator, K-9 “Shamey” and DEC’s newest K-9s and      handlers will be giving live demonstrations of the environmental police work these dogs do on a daily basis across the state).

WHERE:  Summitt Correctional Facility 137 Eagle Heights Rd, Summit, NY 12175

WHEN:            11 a.m., Wednesday, September 28, 2016

DEC Contact:    Benning DeLaMater, 518-402-8000