Hancock County Sheriffs Department introduces new K-9

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department introduced K-9 Kennie, a 3-month-old bloodhound, during an engaging play date with local children at Clarke Field in Newell. Kennie will primarily assist in locating suspects, missing children, and dementia patients, although he is not yet certified for these tasks, as explained by his handler, Deputy Dante DiJirolanio. Despite the excessive heat lowering attendance, Kennie drew attention and enjoyed splashing around in a baby pool with the kids. He was bred in Leitchfield, Kentucky, and has a strong lineage, with nine generations of bloodhounds trained for law enforcement. The addition of Kennie raises the K-9 unit to five dogs, but K-9 Kevin is expected to retire soon due to health issues.

All other K-9s in the unit are dual-purpose patrol dogs, primarily German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mixes. The sheriff's department encourages community support for the K-9 fund, which funds the program. Interested individuals can reach out to organization leaders via phone or social media.