The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office has a new K-9 team in its ranks. K-9 Rich and his handler, Deputy Dana Kapuscinski, were formally dedicated in a ceremony on Thursday, marking the completion of the first phase of their operational training. The new K-9 is named in memory of the late Richard Telford, who served the Sheriff's Office for over 30 years, rising to the rank of Undersheriff. Following his passing in September 2024, the department chose to honor his three decades of dedicated service by naming the newest member of the force in his likeness. During the ceremony, the Telford family was presented with a plaque to commemorate the dedication. The acquisition of K-9 Rich was made possible through a generous private donation by Judd Bohall, a senior member of Bayview Financial Group. Mr. Bohall's contribution covered the total purchase cost of the canine.
Photo by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office
