News from the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners
Shanel Y. Robinson, Commissioner Director Ÿ Melonie Marano, Commissioner Deputy Director
Sara Sooy, Commissioner Ÿ Paul Drake, Commissioner Ÿ Doug Singleterry, Commissioner
For Immediate Release
October 5, 2022
Contact Nathan Rudy, Somerset County PIO Director, at (908) 635-8401 for more information.
Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo Needs Your Help to Name Newest K-9 Officer
Residents Are Asked to Recommend Names for the Yellow Lab Training to Protect and Serve the People of Somerset County
SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County Sheriff Darrin J. Russo announced a contest to name the agency’s newest K-9 officer, a male yellow Labrador retriever whose job will be to sniff out illegal drugs with his partner, Sheriff’s Officer David Daneker. The contest winner will take home some cool Somerset County Sheriff swag and be invited to participate in the naming ceremony in Somerville with the other members of the K-9 Unit.
“Our K-9 officers and their handlers make a difference every day in the lives of Somerset County residents, with our K-9s taking millions of dollars of illegal drugs off the streets,” said Sheriff Russo. “Adding a new member to this Somerset County Sheriff’s family is always exciting, but we need the community’s help in giving our new K-9 Officer his name!”
Somerset County’s K-9 Unit was established in 2002 and has more than doubled under Sheriff Russo to nine K-9 officers and six skilled handlers. The demands of the position are unique within the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, requiring handlers to be passionate and willing to dedicate their lives to law enforcement while assuming the many 24-7 responsibilities of a K-9 handler.
“We’re so excited to bring our newest K-9 officer to the battle against opioids that have damaged so many lives,” said Sheriff Russo. “And we want the community he will be serving to provide his new name to welcome him to the Somerset County family.”
All submissions can be made via email to Michelle Royer at Royer@co.somerset.nj.us or through the Sheriff’s Office’s “Submit A Tip” option on the home page of our new mobile app on Google Play or the Apple App Store. The public can submit names until Monday, October 24, 2022 at 4 p.m.
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