Canine

Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit

Gib

The canine unit for the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office was established in the mid 1980’s.  The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office currently has one trained and certified canine team.  The patrol dog team is also cross-trained for narcotic detection.

 Corporal G.J. Neagle III is the handler and his partner is K9 Gib.  K9 Gib is a seven year old German Shepherd from Germany.  His German name is Darro Gibson Van Der Hainstadt.  Cpl. Neagle and Gib are trained and certified through New England State Police Administrators Compact (NESPAC) standards, as well as the Maine Criminal Justice Academy standards.

 During basic patrol school the team was trained and certified in obedience,

Gib Training

officer protection, criminal apprehensions, building searches, evidence recoveries (article searches), agility and tracking of wanted and/or missing individuals.  Patrol school consists of twelve consecutive weeks and the team tests for recertification annually.  The team also attends monthly training throughout the duration of their career.

 During narcotic detection school the team was trained and certified in person searches, room searches, motor vehicle searches and package searches.  Gib detects five odors, which consists of marijuana/hash, crack, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines.  Narcotic detection school consists of eight consecutive weeks and the team tests for recertification annually.  They also attend monthly training for this discipline throughout the duration of their career.

 Cpl. Neagle and K9 Gib respond to approximately 130 calls for service each

Gib in Car

year.  K9 Gib has had several successful tracks, to include locating a lost elderly man with alzheimer’s disease as well as an unrelated incident where a lost, disabled fourteen year old girl wondered into the woods during the winter season.  The team assists the Maine State Police as well as local municipalities when the need for a canine arises.