Canine Unit

The Sutter County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit was established in 1969. The team currently consist of six teams. There are five dogs working out of the main office, two canines are assigned to the Pleasant Grove area.

The K-9's are used in many areas of the office. They primarily work a night shift and respond to most felonies in progress. They are also used when a critical incident occurs in our jail and a concern for the safety of the jail personnel and inmates are present. The K-9 Unit is also available to outside agencies for assistance.

The K-9 Unit enjoys active involvement with various community organizations. They provide demonstrations for schools, youth groups, retirement homes or the elderly, and civic organizations. The demonstrations shown to youth groups and young children are especially rewarding, because we are on a different level and they are able to see fun and relaxed side of our profession. It helps build a foundation of trust between the deputies and the young lives of our community.

Deputy Gwinnup and his partner K-9 Deputy Dexter

Deputy Gwinnup & K-9 Partner Dexter
Deputy Gwinnup and
K-9 Partner Dexter Deputy Gwinnup is the current Canine Team Coordinator for the office.

His canine partner, Dexter, is a six year old Dutch Shepard who started patrol work on January 21, 2004. Dexter is cross trained in protection and narcotic detection. Dexter has been used in building searches, field searches and handler protection. Dexter and I are currently assigned to Patrol. When Dexter is not working he is at home with me and my family.

Some of Dexter’s many accomplishments include:

  • Gold Medal 2005 Police/Fire Games
  • 2nd Place in protection and 5th place overall at the Stockton Police Canine Trials
  • 5th Place in protection and 4th place overall/novice at the Western States Police Canine Association Trials hosted by Oakland Police Department
  • 3rd Place overall/novice at the Sacramento Police Canine Trials
  • 1st Place Search Deco's Choice, 4th place overall, Chief's Trophy Vallejo Police K9 Trail
  • 2nd place protection, Decoy's Choice, 5th place overall Petaluma Police K9 Trial
  • 1st place protection, 4th place search Folsom Police K9 Trial
  • 8 th Place overall in Western States Police Canine Association 2006 Trial Season
  • 2 nd Place search Manteca police K9 Trial
  • 2 nd Place Protection, Sheriff's Trophy Sonoma County Sheriff's K9 Trial
  • 3 rd Place Protection, Vallejo Police K9 Trial

Deputy Brokenbrough and his partner K-9 Deputy Dakota

Dakota and I have been partners for approximately three years. Dakota is a male black lab and he is trained and certified by Peace Officers Standards and Training/California Narcotics Officer Association guidelines to locate methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana. When Dakota finds the source of the odor he ‘alerts’ me of his discovery by using his front paws to “scratch” which is known as an aggressive alert.

Dakota currently works with me in my assignment at NET-5. Dakota has conducted several K-9 demonstrations for local schools, business functions and during searches of vehicles or buildings. Dakota has also been used in the Sutter County Jail and Folsom State Prison.

Deputy Devries and his partner K-9 Deputy Rudie

Deputy Devries has dedicated his life to serving the public. He started in 1976 when he joined the military. After 21 years in the military, he started his second career as a Deputy Sheriff. Deputy Devries is now following in his father’s footsteps. Deputy DeVries’ father was the founding member of Maryland’s Montgomery County Police Department’s K-9 unit. It was started in 1958, and was one of the first K-9 units in the nation. In addition, Deputy Devries’ father was a sniper with the SWAT team, as is Deputy DeVries. Deputy Devries and Rudie have been serving you for three years.

After attending the funeral of his father in 2004, his childhood desire to be a K-9 officer was rekindled. When Deputy Devries returned home, he purchased his first K-9, a Dutch Shepard named Remco. Unfortunately, shortly after certification, Remco died from Leukemia. Undiscouraged, Deputy Devries purchased a new dog, a four year old Dutch Shepard named Rudie. Rudie was trained in Holland to their KNPV standards. On 10/8/05, Rudie obtained his PH1 certification with a score of 421 out of a possible 440 points. Rudie arrived from Holland on 10/22/05 and is now working toward his Peace Officers Standards and Training Certification. Deputy Devries and Rudie look forward to serving you.

Deputy Hunt and his partner K-9 Deputy Ike

Deputy Hunt & K-9 Partner Ike
Deputy Hunt and
K-9 Partner Ike My name is Deputy Hunt and I am a K9 handler with the Sutter County Sheriff’s Dept. I have been working with police K9’s for several years. Working with K9’s is not only my job, it’s my hobby. My K9 partner’s name is Ike. Ike is my personal K9 which I have raised and trained. Ike lives at home with me and goes to work with me every day.

Ike is a Dutch Shepherd who is of the same blood lines as several other working police K9s including Deputy Gwinnup’s K9 partner, Dexter. Ike was born in October of 2005 and was certified for patrol in January of 2007. Ike is certified for protection work, which includes, building searches, area searches and tracking. In Ike’s short career he has assisted in the apprehensions of several suspects.

Due to Ike’s age he has not yet competed in local K9 competitions. Ike will be competing in the 2008 K9 trails and I have very high hopes for him and expect he will do very well. Ike is very eager to train and eager to work, however, when Ike is off duty he is known to lounge around on the couch with me and my family. Ike loves to play catch and tug-a-war. Ike is very loyal to me and his profession and will continue serving our community by protecting the public by apprehending criminals.

Deputy Andersen and her partner K-9 Deputy Diesel

Diesel and I have been partners for six months. Diesel is a two year old Belgium Malinios from Holland. Diesel is cross trained in protection and narcotic detection. Diesel works with me while I am on duty and spends his days off at home with me and my family.

Deputy Traynor and his partner K-9 Deputy Karo

My name is Deputy Traynor and I’m a K-9 handler assigned to the City of Live Oak, where I have been assigned for a little over two years. After five years on patrol, I had the honor of being selected as the City of Live Oak’s first K-9 Unit.

K-9 Deputy Karo became my partner (and a member of my family) on November 20, 2007. Karo is a Belgian Malinois who came from Holland. He understands both English and Dutch. K-9 Deputy Karo is also certified in narcotics. K-9 Deputy Karo loves his job! If it were up to him he would work all day, every day. Karo refuses to call in sick and does not require a vacation.

When K-9 Deputy Karo and I are not working we enjoy watching the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Raiders games on television. Karo loves to play with the kids at the local Little League Park, where we often go for training.

Canine Demonstrations

To schedule a canine demonstration contact Sgt. Whiteaker or Deputy Gwinnup at 822-7307.