K-9 Officer
Josh Steele
Police Service Dog
Drake
To contact the officers listed:
801-825-4400
Click here to Email
K-9 duties:
- Building and open field searches
- Tracking fleeing criminals or lost persons
- Searching for contraband or discarded evidence
- Crowd / Riot control
- High risk criminal apprehensions
- Handler protection
- School programs
- Social / Civic functions
- Demonstrations
K-9 Program
Syracuse Police Department is currently rebuilding the Police Service Dog (PSD) Program. At this time, Bernie is the only PSD that Syracuse has. PSD Bernie is a German Shepherd who was born May 2005. Bernie was purchased and is solely maintained through private donations.
Serving as a K-9 Officer is an additional duty for a patrol officer. Officer Erik Bailey is PSD Bernie's handler and he lives with Officer Bailey full time.
Officer Bailey has been with Syracuse Police Department for over six years and has been assigned to patrol since May 1999. Officer Bailey has fifteen years of law enforcement experience.
A PSD Team is used for narcotic and building searches, tracking and locating evidence. Bernie was purchased with the intent of being a single purpose K-9. Bernie has attend/competed Narcotic Detector Training Fall of 2006, at Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). This training lasts approximately nine weeks. Bernie trains one day a week with PSD teams from other agencies in the area. The training consists of tracking, searching and narcotic detection. Once Bernie is certified, he will provide support to Syracuse and the surrounding communities. Bernie also performs public demonstrations for various citizen groups and schools.