BATH – Steuben County 1st Sgt. Daimon may be
the ideal employee:
He works for room and board and is absolutely eyes-on dedicated to his partner.
Just like any other hard-working law officer, after a day sniffing for drugs, tracking down lost people or barking in a way that has led many a fugitive from justice to come out with their hands up, the German Shepherd simply wants to kick back …. With a chew toy.
“He wants to play,” said Daimon’s partner and
handler, Sgt. Shaun Shutt. “Really, that’s what he does it for. That’s his
reward.”He works for room and board and is absolutely eyes-on dedicated to his partner.
Just like any other hard-working law officer, after a day sniffing for drugs, tracking down lost people or barking in a way that has led many a fugitive from justice to come out with their hands up, the German Shepherd simply wants to kick back …. With a chew toy.
Daimon, 6, is the senior member of Steuben’s K-9 Corps, which includes new recruits Belgian Malenoises Twiggy and soon-to-be-on board Knappy.
“The canine unit started because the public wanted it,” county Sheriff Jim Allard said. “We rely 100 percent on donations and they have more than paid back the public’s trust.”
Off duty, Daimon appears to be the best of the breed – alert, intelligent, level-headed and energetic.
On leash, he also is tautly focused, tuned
into Shutt’s commands and quick to pick up on his handler’s signals.
Trained as a patrol, tracking and detection dog, agile, muscular and strong, 80-pound Daimon is an intimidating “deterrent, a use of force, make no mistake,” Allard said. “He is there to protect our officers.”
Popular when visiting schools, nursing homes, the county fair and other Good Will presentations, Daimon’s ability to cue in on Shutt’s signals also have led to almost 120 assists since the dog joined the department.
Daimon has helped law officers track down suspects, including a fugitive in Greenwood and Pennsylvania earlier this year, smelled out a $7,000 cache of bath salts last Easter, helped track burglars, participated in dozens of drug busts and numerous residential issues.
With more than 20 K-9s killed in the line of duty across the nation since 2018, Daimon puts his life on the line right along with Shutt, every time they go on duty.
Shutt wears protective gear – so does Daimon, with donations paying for his protective vests.
With years of experience working with Daimon and additional training, Shutt will soon become a state Division of Criminal Justice Services examiner for K-9 Training.
For his years of experience working with Shutt, Daimon may get a new chew toy.
Trained as a patrol, tracking and detection dog, agile, muscular and strong, 80-pound Daimon is an intimidating “deterrent, a use of force, make no mistake,” Allard said. “He is there to protect our officers.”
Popular when visiting schools, nursing homes, the county fair and other Good Will presentations, Daimon’s ability to cue in on Shutt’s signals also have led to almost 120 assists since the dog joined the department.
Daimon has helped law officers track down suspects, including a fugitive in Greenwood and Pennsylvania earlier this year, smelled out a $7,000 cache of bath salts last Easter, helped track burglars, participated in dozens of drug busts and numerous residential issues.
With more than 20 K-9s killed in the line of duty across the nation since 2018, Daimon puts his life on the line right along with Shutt, every time they go on duty.
Shutt wears protective gear – so does Daimon, with donations paying for his protective vests.
With years of experience working with Daimon and additional training, Shutt will soon become a state Division of Criminal Justice Services examiner for K-9 Training.
For his years of experience working with Shutt, Daimon may get a new chew toy.
