K-9 Basilone loved going to work.
Each day, he watched his handler, Sgt. Shannon Snook, put on her uniform—his signal that the day had begun, the patrol car was waiting and he was ready for duty.
It did not matter if it was in the middle of the night, in a snowstorm or during a holiday celebration. “He knew the ringtone assigned to county communications and 911,” Snook says. “K-9 Basilone couldn’t help but run frantically through my house as though I’m not getting dressed quickly enough. Imagine working with a partner that always loves to go to work!”
Over his years of service, Basilone, now retired, responded to 695 requests for service. He is one of eight dogs—five currently working and three retired—that have been keeping the community safe since the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office established the K-9 Unit in 2002. Serving along with Snook and her current K-9s Gucci and Lucy, both German Shepherds, is Task Force Officer David Daneker and Patriot, a Labrador, and Sheriff’s Officer Justin Nielsen and Anna and Emma, both German Shepherds. Joining Basilone in retirement are fellow German Shepherds Apex and Benning.
Dogs for the K-9 unit are bred in Europe and are acquired at one year old. “America is known for breeding dogs to the American Kennel Club standards, while Europe is known for breeding dogs that possess the genetic disposition to work relentlessly,” explains Snook, a 19-year veteran of Somerset County Government. “We seek healthy, athletic dogs that are not fearful, aggressive or easily startled. The same dog that hunts criminals also performs school demonstrations and resides in the homes of our families.”
The K-9s are trained and certified in tasks such as human scent tracking, evidence recovery, searches, criminal apprehension, handler protection and explosives and narcotics scent detection. The K-9 teams also complete monthly in-service and two semiannual recertifications. “The endless hours training, working and deploying creates a bond between human and K-9 that is unlike any other,” Snook says.
Beyond formal certification and field deployments, much of the unit’s success comes from repetition and trust built during training exercises that mimic real-world scenarios. These sessions often take place in wooded trails and urban structures to prepare the handler and K-9 for unpredictable conditions. According to Snook, the dogs thrive on routine, structure, and purpose.
“There’s a rhythm to the work,” she explains. “They know when it’s training, they know when it’s a call, and they know when it’s time to focus. That level of discipline is something you build together over time.”
Still, behind the structure and discipline is a relationship built on instinct and connection. Handlers often describe an unspoken connection with their K-9 partners, built through movement, energy and instinct.
“It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it,” Snook says. “But you develop this understanding where you don’t even need words anymore. They read you, and you learn to read them.”
The Sheriff’s Office is grateful for contributions from donors who have supported the unit. “The generosity of our donors ensures our canines are acquired through reputable sources, provided the care needed to support the extreme physical demands of their work while utilizing reliable equipment allowing them to serve with excellence alongside their human handlers,” Snook says.
One benefactor is the Alison Marie Wildman Foundation, which was established by her family in 2002 to honor the memory of the 30-year-old Bridgewater resident who loved animals and who was tragically killed in the World Trade Center terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001. In 2021, Sheriff Darrin J. Russo honored her father, Arthur, as the first-ever Honorary Life Member. The Alison Marie Wildman Foundation donated over $75,000 to the K-9 Unit for canine body armor, housing and veterinary care.
Benefactors Deanna Padovani-DePaço and Caesar DePaço, founder and CEO of the Summit Nutritionals International, donated $72,500 to the unit. In 2023, the family provided a replacement vehicle for the unit. “Their continued support also included the acquisition of K-9 Gucci in 2025, which allowed K-9 Basilone to ease into a healthy retirement while allowing us to provide essential services without delay to our residents,” Snook says.
The K-9 unit fulfills roles that an officer alone cannot do. “An officer is unable to utilize their nose to trace the steps of a missing child or a criminal who fled from a crime scene. We cannot smell hidden narcotics or detect the odor of explosives,” she says. “Our K-9 teams are frequently required to perform tasks in unfamiliar, stressful and dangerous environments.”
The job for both humans and the dogs is demanding. Handlers and their dogs are on call for service 24/7, 365 days a year. K-9s reside with their handler and upon retirement continue to live with their handler. “The demands of this position require passionate officers who are willing to dedicate their lives to being a K-9 handler,” Snook says. “This requires a tremendous support from their family as well as a financial commitment that often goes unnoticed by the community they keep safe.”
That said, she continues, “It’s personally satisfying that in addition to the law enforcement responsibilities, I am able to engage with both young children and adults to discuss our responsibilities and experiences. It is a very fulfilling career.”
Looking ahead, Snook reflects on how the program continues to evolve while maintaining its core mission. Each new K-9 brings a different personality, strengths, and learning curve, ensuring that no two partnerships are ever the same. Yet the purpose remains constant: protecting the community.
Even in retirement, Basilone’s legacy remains present within the unit. His years of service, dedication, and enthusiasm for the job continue to be a reminder of the impact a single K-9 can make. For Snook, and for the entire Sheriff’s Office, that legacy is carried forward in every new deployment, every training session, and every successful mission completed by the team.
In many ways, the K-9 Unit is more than a division of law enforcement—it is a reflection of loyalty, trust, and partnership at its highest level. And for those who serve within it, it is not just a job, but a lifelong commitment shared between human and dog, built one call, one training, and one moment at a time.
PULL QUOTE:
“It is not just a job, but a lifelong commitment shared between human and dog.” —Sgt. Shannon Snook