Columbia County Sheriff's Department K-9 Retires 05/01/20
Hudson, NY- Sheriff David P. Bartlett announces that after serving the citizens of Columbia County for ten years, K9 Kira will be retiring from the Sheriff’s Office.
K9 Kira is a female German Shepherd from East Slovakia who was acquired through a grant from the NYS Department of Homeland Security in 2010. Since joining the Sheriff’s Office, Kira has received specialized training in explosives detection, patrol, and tracking.
Deputy Travis VanAlstyne is Kira’s handler and partner. During the course of Kira’s career, she has tracked many missing and wanted persons, performed many explosive sweeps, and assisted many other agencies across the State of New York and Massachusetts.
In addition, K9 Kira has taken part in many community events and demonstrations throughout the county to educate the public on the role of a K9 in law enforcement.
Sheriff Bartlett reports that K9 Kira will be living with her family in retirement.
K9 Kira is a female German Shepherd from East Slovakia who was acquired through a grant from the NYS Department of Homeland Security in 2010. Since joining the Sheriff’s Office, Kira has received specialized training in explosives detection, patrol, and tracking.
Deputy Travis VanAlstyne is Kira’s handler and partner. During the course of Kira’s career, she has tracked many missing and wanted persons, performed many explosive sweeps, and assisted many other agencies across the State of New York and Massachusetts.
In addition, K9 Kira has taken part in many community events and demonstrations throughout the county to educate the public on the role of a K9 in law enforcement.
Sheriff Bartlett reports that K9 Kira will be living with her family in retirement.
Photos and Report by the Columbia County Sheriff's Department