CCSO welcomes three new K9s to its force
Photo graphic courtesy of CCSO.
Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO)
Citrus County, Florida - On February 6, 2025, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office announced the addition of three new K-9s (police dogs) to its ranks. K-9 Knight, K-9 Recon, and K-9 Kodak successfully completed their North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) narcotics certification and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) patrol certification tests, officially joining the CCSO K-9 Unit.
Each K-9 and their handler underwent a rigorous certification process, which included a minimum of 480 hours of intensive training in tracking, narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, and obedience.
- K-9 Knight, a 15-month-old Dutch Shepherd from Hungary, is assigned to Deputy Daniel Elias.
- K-9 Recon, a 14-month-old German Shepherd from Hungary, is assigned to Deputy Emory Parrish.
- K-9 Kodak, a 21-month-old Belgian Malinois from Poland, is assigned to Deputy David Elias. K-9 Kodak replaces K-9 Odie, who retired in October 2024 after 5 years and 8 months of dedicated service. K-9 Odie now enjoys his well-earned retirement at home with Deputy David Elias.
"Citrus County just gained three new canine teams to continue keeping our hometown community safe," said CCSO Sergeant David Miller. "The amount of effort that each handler and K-9 partner exhibited during their training to improve and perfect their craft was unmatched and I'm thrilled to see what each pair accomplishes."
The CCSO K-9 Unit plays a vital role in law enforcement operations, assisting in narcotics detection, tracking suspects and missing persons, and providing an extra layer of protection for deputies and citizens alike.