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New K9 team to help with arson investigations in Erie County

Posted at 12:30 PM, Feb 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-24 12:30:41-05

The Erie County Sheriff's Office announced Friday it is training a new accelerant detection team for the Fire Investigation Unit.

Detective Kuhlmey and his new partner, Axe, will train at the New York State Fire Training Academy in Montour Falls for about eight weeks. Axe is a one and a half-year-old Lab mix. 

Once training is completed, the team will be deployed to fire scene throughout Erie County to search for the possible use of accelerants. 

Axe was rescued from an animal shelter in the Albany area, and provided to the Sheriff's Office by the New York State Department of Homeland Security.

Axe and Detective Kuhlmey are taking over K9 fire investigating following the retirement at the end of 2016 of Detective Meerboth and Blaze.