Dedication and Honor
Waukesha County Canine Unit

Waukesha Sheriff's Dept. K-9 Unit
2nd Annual K-9 Golf Outing
June 7, 2010
Click Here for Brochure/Registration

Canine Unit Mission Statement "To provide extensively trained, highly motivated, and dedicated canine teams to respond to critical incidents, to any community, whenever requested, to protect the citizens of Waukesha County."

            The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department Canine Unit was established in 1990. Since then, the department has had sixteen canines work for the department.  The canine’s abilities include; locating lost persons, school searches, tracking, apprehension, evidence search, narcotics detection, building searches, and officer protection.

The canine teams have assisted numerous agencies including the United States Marshall’s Service; Milwaukee HIDTA; United States Secret Service; Dubuque, Iowa; along with numerous law enforcement agencies throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.

The Canine Unit is available twenty-four hours a day to respond for duty.  In 2009 the unit has responded to over 600 calls for service.  The canine unit has assisted seventeen different school districts annually in Southeastern Wisconsin over the years.  The handlers and canines are also members of the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department’s Tactical Enforcement Unit, in which they respond to high-risk calls, some including; hostage situations, armed barricaded subjects, drug warrants, robberies, burglaries, and vehicle pursuits.

The handlers and their canines are certified through the North American Police Work Dog Association and are members of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association. 

The handlers are all assigned squad cars that they take home at the end of their shifts, this allows for better response times to calls when they are requested off-duty.  The canines go home with the handlers at the end of their shifts, are a part of their families, and socialize with the family members.  When the canines retire from active duty, they are signed-over to the handlers, and remain at the handlers’ residence from then on. 

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Currently there are four canine teams working for the department.  The four canines are Belgian Malinois’ that are dual-purpose police canines, trained in patrol tactics and narcotics detection.  The canines are assigned to the following handlers:

Deputy Chris Deakin has been a deputy for 24 years and a canine handler for 16 years.  Canine “Bronco” is Deputy Deakin's third canine partner and has been in service since 2008. Deputy Deakin was awarded the 2006 K-9 Handler of the Year from the W.L.E.C.H.A.

Deputy Brad Schuenemann has been a deputy for 14 years and a canine handler for the past 12 years.  Canine “Soldier” is Deputy Schuenemann’s second canine partner and began his service in 2007.  Deputy Schuenemann was awarded the 2002 Meritorious Track with Apprehension from the W.L.E.C.H.A.

Deputy Brad Stenulson has been in law enforcement for the past 14 years, eight years as a deputy, and a canine handler for the past 6 years.  Canine Tangka began her service in 2003.  Deputy Stenulson was awarded the 2004 Meritorious Apprehension, 2005 Meritorious Apprehension, and the 2005 K-9 Handler of the Year from the W.L.E.C.H.A. Canine Tangka will be retiring in 2010.

Deputy Chad Niles has been a deputy for 9 years and a canine handler for 5 years.  Canine “Conan” began his service in 2005.  Deputy Niles was awarded the 2007 Meritorious Article Find from the W.L.E.C.H.A.

The purchase of the canines are funded through donations.  The cost of a police canine is approximately $16,000.00 dollars.  The K-9 Unit sells clothing, including T-shirts (youth and adult sizes), sweatshirts (youth and adult sizes), fleeces, and polo shirts.  The T-shirts have pictures of the canines and all other items have embroidered K-9 Emblems.  If you would be interested in purchasing clothing items or making a monetary donation, please contact one of the following: 

Captain Frank McElderry K-9 Unit Commander (262) 896-8156

Lieutenant Brian Larson K-9 Unit Coordinator (262) 896-8154