Chautauqua County welcomes new K-9 Rich in tribute to late undersheriff
Deputy Dana Kapuscinski and K-9 Rich were formally dedicated in Chautauqua County, with the young German Shepherd honoring late Undersheriff Richard Telford.
Chautauqua County’s newest K-9 team stepped into service with a dedication that carried two messages at once: Deputy Dana Kapuscinski and K-9 Rich were formally introduced, and Rich’s name tied the dog’s work to the late Undersheriff Richard Telford. The ceremony, held Thursday, marked the completion of the first phase of the team’s operational training and drew family members, deputies and community supporters.
Rich is a one-year-old German Shepherd purchased from Shallow Creek Kennels in February 2026, and the sheriff’s office said the dog has already completed training in human tracking, obedience and apprehension. Rich also earned New York State certification, giving Deputy Kapuscinski a working partner ready for patrol duties now, not months down the road. For a high-drive dog, that kind of structure is the whole point: raw energy gets directed into clear, repeatable tasks that matter on the street.
The name on the vest carries local history. Telford served the sheriff’s office for more than 30 years and rose to undersheriff before his death in 2024. Chautauqua County announced his death on Sept. 24, 2024, and later local coverage said he was 54. At the dedication, Telford’s family received a plaque, making the ceremony part sendoff, part service milestone and part public thank-you to a man remembered for leadership and years inside the department.
Rich’s next assignment is already on the calendar. The team is scheduled to return for Phase II training in September 2026, when the focus will shift to specialized explosives detection. That kind of move is where a K-9’s drive has to be sharpened, not just admired. New York State canine standards recognize separate certification tracks for patrol, tracking, article search, narcotics detection and explosives detection, and state police training also folds in obedience, agility, handler protection, tracking, building searches, veterinary care and land navigation.
The county’s new dog did not arrive by accident. Rich was funded through a private donation from Judd Bohall, and the department also thanked local partners who helped build a new kennel. That support matters because a K-9 program is more than a badge and a dog. It is the dog, the handler, the training pipeline and the infrastructure that keeps both ready. Rich’s dedication made that clear from the start.
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