Alachua Police Department Welcomes Newly Certified K-9 Team

ALACHUA – The Alachua Police Department’s newest K-9 team has officially completed state certification and is preparing to begin patrol duties following more than 500 hours of intensive training.

Officer Brody Wetzel and K-9 Ramsey graduated from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s 480-hour K-9 Patrol Certification Course, marking the culmination of months of specialized instruction in tracking, apprehension, obedience and area and building searches.

The training was conducted through the Marion County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit under the leadership of Sgt. Jay Nix, who also selected K-9 Ramsey for service with the Alachua Police Department.

APD Chief Jesse Sandusky praised the team’s achievement and the partnership that made it possible.

“The amount of hard work, training, and dedication it takes to complete this program is tremendous,” Sandusky said. “Officer Wetzel and K-9 Ramsey have represented our department with professionalism and have truly made us proud. We are extremely grateful to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Sergeant Jay Nix for their outstanding training and support, and we sincerely appreciate K9s United and our community partners for their generosity.”

K-9 Ramsey was donated to the department through K9s United, a nonprofit organization that supports law enforcement K-9 programs by providing dogs, equipment and training assistance.

In a statement, K9s United congratulated the team on completing patrol school and certification.

“This achievement represents hundreds of hours of hard work, discipline, and the development of a true working partnership built on trust and commitment,” the organization said. “K9 Ramsey was proudly donated by K9s United to the Alachua Police Department, and seeing this team reach this milestone is exactly why our mission exists.”

K9s United also credited the Marion County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit for preparing the team for real-world patrol operations.

“Their training was conducted through the Marion County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, by our very own Org President Jay Nix, preparing them for real-world patrol operations and service to their community,” the organization stated.

The nonprofit thanked its supporters and donors for helping make the placement possible, noting that continued support allows the group to provide quality dogs to agencies and assist in building effective K-9 teams.

Before officially beginning patrol duties, Officer Wetzel will complete two additional days of shadowing with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. During that time, he will ride along and respond to calls for service as part of the transition to active duty.

With certification complete, the team is now cleared for patrol operations in Alachua, where they will assist with tracking suspects, conducting searches and supporting officers during critical incidents.

K-9 teams serve as a force multiplier for law enforcement agencies, providing specialized capabilities in locating individuals, detecting evidence and enhancing officer safety. Department leaders said the addition of Officer Wetzel and K-9 Ramsey strengthens APD’s operational readiness and community protection efforts.

With training complete and final preparations underway, Alachua’s newest K-9 team is ready to take to the streets.

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