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Westchester State Trooper, Her Partner Graduate From Canine Handler School

SOMERS, N.Y. – A New York State Police trooper from the Somers barracks and her canine partner have graduated from the 2014 Canine Handler Basic School.

Trooper Meredith Govoni with Lexie.

Trooper Meredith Govoni with Lexie.

Photo Credit: nyspolice

Fourteen handlers and their canine partners graduated on Nov. 20.

Photo Credit: nyspolice

Meredith Govoni of the Troop K division and her canine, Lexie, were honored during a ceremony held at the New York State Police Academy in Albany on Nov. 20. 

The canines and their handlers underwent 20 weeks of training at the New York State Police Canine Training Facility in Cooperstown, N.Y.

During the sessions, canines were taught skills such as tracking fugitives and detecting explosives and narcotics. Officers also were taught basic veterinary care.

The 14 graduates include members from the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Saugerties Police Department.

The New York State Police Canine Unit currently includes 81 teams, including the new graduates. During the first 10 months of 2014, members of the Division Canine Unit responded to 3,150 service calls. The new class of handlers and their canines will go on patrol starting the week of Nov. 24. The canines that make up the Division Canine Unit are donated by breeders, private individuals, and humane societies.  All canines are put through testing and evaluation prior to assignment in the Canine Basic Handler’s School. 

State Police canines are named after members killed in the line of duty.  

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