Some police agencies are changing how they use police dogs. In New York, some of that has to do with the legalization of marijuana. But for drug-sniffing K9s, the prevalence of other drugs like fentanyl and the explosion in the number of illegal guns adds to the shift. 

Brockport police officer Josh Sime never goes anywhere without his partner. They’re connected by duty — sometimes by a leash — and always by love and affection.

“I get to take a dog to work every day,” said Sime. “So this is, in my opinion, the best job I could ask for. He's a great, great companion. We get to see a lot of different things.”

Brock is a 7-year-old German Shepherd and the first member of the Brockport police K9 unit. Something as simple as fetching a ball is also part of his training for crucial police work.

“It's an essential tool for us,” said Sime. “It keeps our officers and the public safe, just due to the nature of these dogs and their noses and what they're able to smell and detect.“

Police have always used dogs to track, be it missing persons or crime suspects. They’re also used to detect guns and drugs — the latter, an ever-evolving process, as marijuana laws have changed and drugs like fentanyl have become more prevalent.

“It’s police work and always changing,” said Rochester Police Chief David Smith. “Obviously those things do evolve. Your dogs typically can only be trained for one or two specialties, at the most.”

That’s why law enforcement agencies often rely on K9s from other departments who have that specialized training. The cooperation was on display at a recent event at CountryMax in Henrietta, which served as a fundraiser for Rochester Crime Stoppers, which helps fund police K9 units in the area.

“It is very specialized based on the training, and depending on what you're looking for the function dog to do,” said Smith.

“Things have changed,” said Sime. “But the way that we're training is constantly evolving, and we're staying sharp we're training every day, really.”

Brock is up to the job. In an ever-changing world, there are ever-changing needs in law enforcement. It’s good to have a good partner.

“It’s a really rewarding career,” said Sime. “And a lot of fun.”