OCEAN CITY, MD / DEWEY BEACH, DE - Two Delmarva Police departments have announced their newest four-legged additions to local law enforcement.
Both the Ocean City Police Department and the Dewey Police Department introduced new K9 Units on Friday in social media posts.
Cpl. Kurten and K-9 partner Smoke have returned from training, Dewey Police said, and began duty today. Smoke is a 16-month-old half-Malinois, half-German Shepherd mix, and is trained in drug detection as well as a patrol dog, according to police. Police say Smoke has the ability to provide protection to his handler, search buildings, track, and apprehend criminals.
Dewey Police say this is their first K-9 team.
Meanwhile, just south in Ocean City, K9 Finn has joined the Ocean City Police Department. Finn is a Belgian Malinois reportedly from the Czech Republic and is just over a year old. His human partner, Police Officer First Class Patrick Schob, has been a member of the department since 2018.
Finn and Schob spent six weeks training in Pennsylvania in patrol and narcotics detection, Ocean City Police say. Finn was certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association and is now ready for duty, the Department says.