Sheriff’s Office Comfort K-9 Marley lends a paw at Mental Health and Wellness Event

K-9 Marley and Sgt. Janis Pickell of the Chester County Sheriff’s Office greet visitors at West Chester Area School District’s Mental Health Share event. In a large room buzzing with conversations about mental health and wellness, one resource is silent. A grin is obvious, and a tail is wagging, however, as Marley—the Chester County Sheriff’s Office’s (CCSO) comfort K-9 and the nation’s...

Chesco Sheriff’s Office Comfort/K-9 1st in nation to achieve national police canine therapy certification

Sgt. Janis Pickell and Comfort K-9 Marley WEST CHESTER — On June 4, Comfort K-9 Marley and his handler Sgt. Janis Pickell of the Chester County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) became the nation’s first canine team to achieve Police Service Therapy/Comfort K-9 certification through the United States Police Canine Association, Inc. (USPCA). The accreditation incorporates the first national standards...

You named them! Meet Zeeke and Moose, Chesco’s newest K-9 officers

WEST CHESTER — The two young K-9s in training to become four-legged deputies in the Chester County Sheriff’s Office now have their names – selected from more than 600 suggestions sent in by Chester County residents of all ages.  Zeeke and Moose were chosen because they are short, powerful and easy for the dogs to understand. Zeeke is expected to join his new partner, Deputy Matthew Moyer,...

Sheriff’s Office seeking names for new young K-9 recruits

WEST CHESTER — The Chester County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that it is expecting! Later this month, two young K-9s, destined to become Chester County Deputy Sheriffs, will be “delivered” to Chester County to begin their training regime. But both dogs need names.  And Chester County Sheriff Fredda Maddox and her team are asking the Chester County community for suggestions. “We...

New Sheriff’s K-9 makes courthouse debut

Sheriff Fredda Maddox (right) introduces K-9 Marley, who is partnered with Sgt. Janis Pickell. WEST CHESTER — Meet K-9 Marley. Chester County Sheriff Fredda Maddox introduced the newest member of the office on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. Following a training period, the 18-month-old Labrador retriever will replace the recently retired K-9 Melody as the courthouse comfort dog. K-9 Marley, who is partnered...

Sheriff’s office K-9 Nero truly becomes a ‘rock’ star

Chester County Sheriffs Deputy Matthew ‘Jamie’ Mendenhall is shown on duty with K-9 Nero. WEST CHESTER — Anyone familiar with K-9 Nero, a stately, bomb-sniffing German shepherd, regarded him as a rock star long before he expanded that definition. In early May, Nero and his partner, Chester County Deputy Sheriff Matthew “Jamie” Mendenhall, were participating in a routine training exercise...

Sheriff welcomes new four-legged deputy

Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh with her newest K-9 deputy, Melody. WEST CHESTER — Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh is welcoming a new four-legged deputy, Melody, to her office’s K-9 unit. Melody’s appointment within the office is to serve as a “comfort” dog in courtroom circumstances where she can help to ease the stress experienced by...