Cody the K9 is Ulster County’s newest cadet and Deputy Lillian Tuey is his partner.

“You do obedience training with him and you do an obstacle course with different crates and stuffed animals, tennis balls, dog food on the floor, to try and distract the dog from what he’s supposed to be doing,” said Tuey.

Cody is one of about 50,000 police therapy dogs in the country, and according to the U.S. Department of Justice, 15% of police officers suffer from PTSD symptoms. The pair returned from the Sheriff’s Office in Brevard County, Florida, where they completed the “Paws and Stripes” therapy dog training.

“You get deputies that come off the street that maybe went to the suicide or had a bad car accident with somebody, they can come in here, drop their paperwork off, and it just gives them a little bit of a.. [sigh of relief],” said Lt. Wallace Fulford.