The Steuben County Sheriff Department currently has three K-9 Units. Steuben County has had a K-9 program since 1978 when Randy Albright and Dennis Croy became the first two handlers with their partners. Other handlers have been Kevin Kane and Rama, Shari Heffner and Jake, Steve Bruns and Harley, and John Gonya and Brix. Our current handlers are Cpl. Darren Compton and Smokey, Officer Jeff Vanette and Bam, and Cpl. Rodney Robinson and Rommel.

Our K-9 Units are trained by the Allen County Police Department K-9 Academy. It is a twelve-week course, which teaches the handlers and dogs’ obedience, agility, tracking, evidence search, area search, building search, and aggression control. They are also trained in narcotics detection. Our K-9s are approachable and live at home with the handlers and their families.

Smokey is an 8-year-old Dutch Shepard assigned to Cpl. Darren Compton. Smokey has been with the department for seven years. Bam is a 5-year-old Shepard from Holland assigned to Officer Jeff Vanette. Bam has been a police dog for four years. Rommel is a 3-year-old German Shepard assigned to Cpl. Rodney Robinson. Rommel is the rookie. He is starting his second year of service.

In 2003 our handlers responded to 29 tracks, 49 narcotics searches, 15 building searches, 1 evidence search, 1 area search, and 29 K-9 assists. The K-9 unit also conducted 40 public demonstrations. Some of the more impressive finds from 2003 were: Rommel’s first week out of the K-9 Academy he apprehended a man fleeing from the police that was manufacturing methamphetamine and threatening his wife with a knife. Bam located 7 grams of rock cocaine leading to the seizure of a recreational vehicle worth over $40,000. And Smoky located a lost Alzheimer’s patient that had been missing for almost six hours.


The K9 team accepts donations, and offers demonstrations to local groups and organizations. For more information contact the Steuben County Sheriff's Department at (260) 668-1000 ext 5000.