Canines and their handlers graduate from the New York State Polic...

Press Release

The New York State Police held a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, for the Canine Handler Basic School. The ceremony was held at the New York State Police Academy in Albany.

A total of 12 canine teams graduated from the State Police, as well as one from the Oswego Police Department and one from the Orchard Park Police Department.

The canines and their handlers underwent 20 weeks of training at the New York State Police Canine Training Facility located in Cooperstown, New York. During the training, students and their partners received instruction in basic obedience, agility, handler protection, building searches, explosive or narcotic detection, tracking for fugitives and lost or missing persons, basic veterinary care and land navigation and grid searches.

The current strength of the State Police Canine Unit is 85 teams, including those who graduated today.

The New York State Police Source professionally bred working dogs from exclusive, oversees kennels which results in only the top-tier Police Canines being added to the unit.

State Police canines are named after members who have died in the line of duty.

The following is a full list of the graduating handlers, their canines, and namesakes, and assigned Troop:

Trooper Justin Stevens, Canine Perkins, Trooper Charles W. Perkins - Troop B https://troopers.ny.gov/perkins

Trooper Connor Cornine, Canine Snyder, Investigator Richard B. Snyder - Troop F https://troopers.ny.gov/snyder

Trooper Eric Wellington, Canine Van, Investigator Robert L. VanHall, Jr. - Troop E https://troopers.ny.gov/van

Trooper Gregory Egloff, Canine Vin, Trooper Alvin P. Kurdys - Troop T https://troopers.ny.gov/vin

Trooper Nicholas Molyneaux, Canine Wild, Trooper Carl T. Wilder - Troop K https://troopers.ny.gov/wild

Trooper Stephen Dellasala, Canine Arri, Sergeant Homer J. Harrison - Troop A https://troopers.ny.gov/arri

Trooper Robert Peluso, Canine Chase, Trooper Covel C. Pierce - Troop G https://troopers.ny.gov/chase

Trooper Alex Ando, Canine Corbett, Trooper Thomas L. Corbett - Troop A https://troopers.ny.gov/corbe

Trooper Frank Casillo, Canine Gallo, Trooper Joseph J. Gallagher - Troop L https://troopers.ny.gov/gallo

Trooper Shane Jones, Canine Hedges, Trooper Richard L. Hedges - Troop C https://troopers.ny.gov/hedges

Trooper Joseph Turoski, Canine J, Trooper Jon M. Grassia III - Troop T https://troopers.ny.gov/j

Trooper Kaitlyn Lopez, Canine Lake, Trooper Lawrence W. Lakeman -Troop E https://troopers.ny.gov/lake