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St. Helens Police Welcome New Canine to the Force
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2023
St. Helens, Ore. - A new police canine team is now certified to patrol St. Helens streets. St. Helens Officer Bryan Cutright and police canine Jax were certified by the Oregon Police Canine Association on September 26, 2023, to begin working as a canine team.
Jax is a two-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois that was purchased by the St. Helens Police Department from Adlerhorst International, LLC, in California. Jax’s handler, St. Helens Officer Bryan Cutright, is new to police canine work. Officer Cutright went through a 10-week mandatory academy in April 2023 to be able to work with police canines. After Jax arrived in St. Helens, the police dog also had to receive certification before Officer Cutright and Jax could officially begin working as a team.
“A police canine team is able to perform specialized tasks that aren’t possible for an officer on foot,” said Officer Cutright. “Canines are faster, can track by scent, and can travel through thick brush and small spaces that would be difficult for an officer to do.”
Police canines can also be used as a voluntary compliance tool. “Suspects are sometimes more willing to surrender when they see that a police canine is on scene,” said St. Helens Police Chief Brian Greenway. “This keeps our officers and the suspect safe since it reduces use-of-force situations.”
Jax will be used as an apprehension and tracking dog. He is replacing former St. Helens police canine Ryder. Ryder, a purebred German Shepherd, was retired on September 26, 2023, the same day that Jax was certified to begin work. Ryder joined the St. Helens Police Department in August 2016 and was handled by Sgt. Jon Eggers. As a team, they successfully tracked and apprehended suspects for the St. Helens Police Department and assisted other agencies when needed. Ryder retires from the police force at almost nine years old, having served St. Helens for seven years. He will spend his retirement as a family pet with his handler.
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For further information regarding this press release, please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at cking@sthelensoregon.gov.
