Kane Family Looks On as County K9 Named for Former Sheriff

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office announced that their newest K9 is now named for former Sheriff Dick Kane.

According to a press release from Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, a brief naming ceremony was attended by former Sheriff Kane’s family, who met the K9 and walked away with photos of him. Sheriff Kane’s daughter, Mary Jane, spoke at the ceremony and highlighted her father’s soft spot for dogs, his passion for police work and his love for the Sheriff’s Office.

K9 Kane’s handler Deputy Matt Moran, Sheriff’s K9 Trainer and Supervisor Sgt. Chad Draper, as well as the administrator of the K9 teams Chief Deputy Jason Yasso all spoke at the ceremony about the benefits of K9 teams and specifically about Kane’s personality and the challenges he faced to become certified as a Police K9 in New York State.

Sheriff Dougherty read the following:

I would like to thank the Kane family for attending this very special day. Sheriff Richard Kane was a determined man who climbed through the ranks, adding to his legacy as Sheriff. Deputy Richard ‘Dick’ Kane was hired as a part time Deputy in 1961, became a full time Deputy Sheriff in 1962.

Deputy Kane became Sergeant Kane in 1965, Chief Deputy in 1969 and Undersheriff in 1971.

Sheriff Kane was sheriff for thirteen years, from 1976 to 1989, God Bless him and his family! During his term a new more efficient jail was built, housing maximum and medium security inmates. Sheriff Kane increased staff from 15 to 59 staff members, making his office more able to reach the community and better serve the needs of the people he served. An interesting fact, Sheriff Kane was one of the first Deputies assigned to motorcycle patrol. Even more exciting in light of today’s ceremony is Sheriff Kane was the first known Livingston County Deputy K9 handler. Partnered with K9 King. In April 1989 a twenty-one year old Geneseo student drowned in the Genesee River after the car she was in drove off a river bank. I myself know what Sheriff Kane had to deal with, the heartache and how it affects the soul. Doing his best to deal with a grieving family, making sure his first responders are well, all while continuing to run his Office. It is a tough job and Sheriff Kane did it well for thirteen years. Sheriff Kane was an honorable man and community minded. He was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, the youngest Assistant Fire Chief and a member of the Cuylerville Fire Company, a member of the Kiwanis Club as well as Cuylerville Gun Club. It is a privilege and honor to introduce to you K9 Kane. Who, like Sheriff Kane, exhibits a strong work ethic and loyalty to his partner and this Office. I have no doubt that K9 Kane will excel in all areas. K9 Kane was certified in Nitrate Detection in May of 2017 and Patrol/Tracking in August of 2017. In K9 Kane’s short time partnered with Deputy Moran, they have compiled 876 hours of training, 19 nitrate searches, 3 tracks and 3 community policing events. The name ‘Kane’ was selected by the Student Council at Keshequa Central School. The name contest was handled by School Resource Officer Deputy Ross Gerace who is the KCS SRO. Keshequa Central was picked for the naming contest as Deputy Moran is a graduate of KCS. We thank the Kane family in attendance today for allowing us to use their name in honoring and remembering Sheriff Dick Kane.