K-9 unit

The Dane County Sheriff’s Office has used canines since as early as 1901.  The current K-9 program has been in place since 1982, making it the longest serving K-9 Unit in Dane County.  Many dedicated deputies and canines have served on the Unit.  The K-9 Unit currently consists of five teams.  Each team consists of a handler (deputy) and their canine partner.  There are three patrol teams, one explosives detection team, and one search/rescue team.  The current teams each have a biography with their most recent trading card photo at the bottom of the page.

DANE COUNTY K9

Dane County K9 an organization comprised entirely of volunteers dedicated to helping the Dane County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit meet its current and long-term funding needs.  Dane County K9 has filed for non-profit status – 501(c)3.  If you are interested in additional information about Dane County K9, please go to www.danecountyk9.org.  

Funding received through Dane County K9 helps purchase special equipment, pay for advanced training, and offset other costs the handlers would incur personally without the assistance of Dane County K9.

 SPECIAL DUTY TEAMS

Deputy Tony Enger has been a deputy in 1990.  He joined the K9 Unit as a handler in May of 1995.  In April 2005, Tony retired K-9 TJ after ten years of service as the Unit’s search and rescue canine.  Tony’s new canine partner is Milo.  They assist in locating missing/lost persons, cadaver searches, and underwater body recovery.  They have worked investigations with the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigations and FBI.

Deputy Scott Lindner has been a deputy since 1994.  He has been a handler with the K9 Unit since April 1996.  In July 2005, Scott retired K-9 Didi after ten years of service as the Unit’s explosive detector canine.  Several months later Didi passed away after a short battle with cancer.  Scott has been working with his new canine partner, Dani, since then.  They respond with the Explosive Ordinance Demolition (EOD) Team and conduct regular sweeps at the Dane County Regional Airport.  They have worked with the Secret Service, ATF, and FBI.

PATROL TEAMS

The patrol teams are cross-trained in tracking, article searching, building searches, narcotics detection, criminal apprehension (bite work) and handler protection.

	Deputy Jay O’Neil has been a deputy since 1990.  He joined the K9 Unit as a handler in June of 1998.  In June 2006, Jay retired K-9 Dino after eight years of service as one of the Unit’s patrol dogs.  Jay and his new partner, Thor, were activated for service in January 2007.  Thor is a German Shepherd imported from Czechoslovakia.  Jay and Thor are also assigned to the Tactical Response Team (TRT).  They have received special training to work with TRT.  They assist on perimeters and in locating suspects during tactical building clearing.
	Deputy Keith Kelly has been a deputy since 1996.  He has been a handler with the K9 Unit since January of 2000.  Keith’s partner is Indy.  Indy is a Belgian Malinois imported from Holland.  They have participated in numerous search warrants, narcotics searches, and apprehensions.  They have been very successful at removing illegal narcotics from our neighborhoods.
	Deputy Brian Biwer has been a deputy since 1999. He started as a canine handler with the K9 Unit in April of 2003. Brian's first partner was K9 Cris, a German Shepherd from the Czech Republic. In March of 2009 Brian started with his current partner K9 Utrix. Utrix is a Belgian Malinois born December 24, 2007, trained as a dual purpose patrol and narcotics detection canine. Together Deputy Biwer and Utrix will perform narcotic sniffing, tracking, building/area search, criminal apprehension and handler protection.