Geauga Sheriff’s K9 Unit
In honor of K9 Veterans Day this March, we are proud to feature the hardworking and dedicated dogs of the Geauga County Sheriff’s K9 Unit. These four-legged heroes play an essential role in keeping our community safe, and we are thrilled to introduce you to the incredible K9 teams who serve with courage, loyalty, and skill.
Why They Matter:
These K9s and their handlers are an invaluable asset to the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, tirelessly working to ensure our safety. Whether detecting explosives, tracking criminals, recovering evidence, or protecting their handlers, these K9s face high-stress and dangerous situations with unwavering dedication.
We’re so grateful for their service and bravery—these K9s are true heroes, and we’re honored to highlight their incredible contributions to our community. Thank you to Sergeant Smith, Deputy Wendl, Deputy Primer, and Deputy Wilson for their service and commitment to protecting and serving alongside their K9 partners.
Sergeant Jacob Smith & K-9 Rookie
K-9 Rookie is a Labrador Retriever born on November 8, 2021, in Columbia, South America. Trained at Excel K9 Services, Rookie is certified through the State of Ohio in explosives detection and criminal tracking. Sergeant Smith and K-9 Rookie are assigned to the Lake County Bomb Squad and respond to calls across Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula Counties, making a major impact in the fight against crime and ensuring public safety.
Deputy Josh Wendl & K-9 Argo
K-9 Argo is a full-bred German Shepherd born on March 28, 2015, in the Czech Republic. Argo is certified in narcotics detection, handler protection, criminal apprehension, tracking, and building searches by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy. Argo loves his work, especially sniffing out illegal drugs, and when he’s off duty, he enjoys playing ball with his handler, Deputy Wendl.
Deputy Randy Primer & K-9 Justice
K-9 Justice is a full-bred German Shepherd born on July 27, 2021, in Slovakia. Known as the “wild child” of the group, Justice is trained in narcotics detection, tracking, evidence recovery, handler protection, building searches, and criminal apprehension. Justice is a playful, energetic dog who loves tug-of-war and playing with his favorite squeaky pig toy while on duty with Deputy Primer.
Deputy Michael Wilson & K-9 Ash
K-9 Ash is a full-bred German Shepherd born in 2021 in Slovakia. Certified by the State of Ohio, K-9 Ash specializes in narcotics detection, tracking, evidence recovery, handler protection, and apprehension. Deputy Wilson and K-9 Ash are a great team, patrolling the area together, and when Ash is off duty, he goes home with Deputy Wilson, continuing their strong bond beyond the workday.