K-9

The Teton County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit is a specialized support function assigned to the patrol division, but available to other units within the department and outside agencies. Our K-9 unit consists of two handlers and two dogs: Handler Jesse Willcox and his K-9 partner Stitch, and Handler Robert Osmond and his K-9 partner Homer. Handlers and their dogs train weekly and undergo rigorous testing for annual certification.

The primary focus of our K-9 unit is the detection of illegal drugs. The K-9 unit strives to enhance public safety by using highly trained narcotic and dangerous drug detection dogs to seek out the odor of controlled substances. These substances are most often hidden and cleverly concealed. The ability of our K-9 partners to locate these drugs increases the safety of both law enforcement personnel and citizens alike by removing dangerous and illegal substances from our community.

The K-9 unit has been in operation since 2002 and is committed to call out 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Aside from conducting authorized drug searches or searches associated with traffic stops, our K-9 units are regularly deployed at the airport and upon request by our schools and various employee housing managers. Our K-9 units average over 100 calls for service a year and have become one of the most utilized tools of controlled substance investigation for our patrol deputies and investigators