Submitted photo The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office recently introduced K-9 Silas, a 14-month-old Labrador retriever. The K-9 and Deputy Kale Luce work at the Randolph Central School District, where the deputy is assigned as the school resource officer.

LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office has welcomed its newest member to the force — K-9 Silas, a 14-month-old Labrador retriever.

Silas began working with the Sheriff’s Office in December 2020 with partner, Deputy Kale Luce. The pair is a certified Law Enforcement Investigative Therapy Canine Team, according to Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb in a news release.

The two attended the Paws and Stripes College at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Cocoa, Fla., where they successfully completed the United K-9’s Law Enforcement and Multi-Discipline Therapy Dog Training course, as well as the AKC Canine Good Citizen test.

The goal for Deputy Luce and Silas is to build positive interactions with students and staff, so that the K-9 can be utilized to reduce anxiety during stressful events, de-escalate tense situations and open avenues for communication with persons in crisis.

K-9 Silas can also be utilized to help children and adult victims when interacting with law enforcement, during interviews, as well as responding to acts of violence against children, serious accidents, and providing emotional support and anxiety reduction for first responders.

The dog works with Luce every day in the Randolph Central School District, where the deputy is assigned as the school resource officer.

Whitcomb thanked Superintendent Kaine Kelly and the Randolph Central School Board for partnering with the Sheriff’s Office to bring Silas into the school community, “where he has already proven to be an asset.” The sheriff also thanked the Randolph Veterinary Clinic for their services and Purina for the food for Silas.