Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, Deputy Tim Pence, K-9 Nichols and Lieutenant Melanie Churakos, the supervisor of the canine position.

Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb announces the deputizing of our new road patrol canine. Nichols, a two year old German Shepard, started training with his handler, Deputy Tim Pence in April. He is a dual purpose canine trained in narcotics and patrol and certified in tracking, and article search. They are both members of the Special Response Team and have helped the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force on several cases as well. This is the first time that a canine was exclusively assigned to an actual road patrol position for the Sheriff's Office. Deputy Pence and K-9 Nichols have to do maintenance training one day a week. They collaborate with all of the other canine handlers in the surrounding counties for the training. It is a great way to support our fellow officers and provide and receive mutual aid to those when needed. The Sheriff would like to thank the Randolph Veterinary Clinic for their services, Purina for their food and Amish Valley Sheds for the housing they provide for Nichols. Sheriff Whitcomb and Deputy Pence agreed to name Nichols after our late Undersheriff Billy Nichols, who passed away in 2015 after 30 years of law enforcement service and a lengthy battle with leukemia.