In early June, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office announced their expansion of their K9 program by introducing their newest canines to the community. One of the canines was named after a recent fallen officer from the Syracuse Police Department, Michael Jensen.

John Cusack is a lieutenant with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. He has been a K9 handler for the past 10 years.

"So this is where all our canines stay. And each one of these cars is specifically designed to house a canine. It is heat controlled and it's got an alarm and more than enough room for him to relax and stretch out and hang out for the shift,"  Lt. Cusack.

Lt. Cusack is now a handler to one of the sheriff’s office newest canines, a one and a half year old dutch shepard from Hungary. K9 Jensen is named after Jensen, who was shot and killed in the line of duty back in April.

“I never knew Michael, but we had a lot in common I thought. We’re both from the Rome area. He grew up a few blocks away from where I grew up. Both grew up playing hockey through high school and college and both entered the world of law enforcement. From what I'm told by his mother, takes on the personality of Michael. He's a little hard headed, but in a good way. He's a good boy,” Lt. Cusack said.

He says losing an officer has such a heavy impact because they are a part of a brotherhood.

“You can meet a police officer, a first responder across the state, across the country, across the world and we all have the same stories. We all have the same experiences. So, you know, without ever meeting any of these guys, you already know what they're about,” said Lt. Cusack.

Cusack says it’s honor to keep Jensen’s legacy alive.

K9 Jensen is being trained to find explosives. He will go through a rigorous training for about two and a half months to prepare for the job.

“You know, we have a motto, you know, never forgotten. And that's one way that we incorporate the never forgotten motto is naming canines and after fallen officers,” Lt. Cusack said.