SEATTLE — The King County Sheriff's Office went all the way to Los Angeles to find its two newest deputies.
The new K-9 officers, Teno and Bane, were at the top of their class of 60 dogs.
Each dog costs $40,000 to buy and train -- but the animals do what no human can.
Some departments want physically aggressive animals, but King County chooses differently.
They want an animal that uses its smarts to track and find fugitives.
“Tracking, first and foremost. They got to be able to track,” said Sgt. Randal Potter.
Potter runs King County’s K-9 unit and knows exactly what a determined, capable tracking dog looks like.
“How hard will he hunt for that ball? And how long will he hunt for that ball?” asked Potter.
Tracking is the most important characteristic for the KCSO, but there are other attributes deputies are looking for too.
King County’s diverse terrain from mountains to cities requires a dog that’s ready to work, no matter the conditions.
#Brave K-9s selected to work with officers—are tested for sociability, courage, tracking skills, and so much more. >> kiro.tv/Police-DogsSee what goes into making these very special #dogs important members serving the community, on #KIRO7 at 5 p.m.
Posted by KIRO 7 News on Tuesday, November 3, 2015