Meet Otto, Pitkin County Sheriff’s newest — and first ever — K9 trainee

The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office is training in its first-ever K9 officer, Otto.

Otto, an 11-month-old golden retriever from Nebraska, hails from a lineage renowned for successful therapy and detection work across the nation. 

His adorable presence in the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) marks the beginning of a new chapter in enhancing security and emotional support within the county, especially in local schools, the Sheriff’s Office said.

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Otto has been paired with School Resource Officer (SRO) Dru Lucchesi and will collaborate closely with other SROs to build trust and rapport with students and staff.

“Otto is doing well. Right now, we are exposing him to good things and good environments,” he said. “There is a lot of positivity around Otto.” 

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He added, “Of course, we are trying to keep him out of trouble, too; but we are really excited to try something new that will hopefully bring joy to the kids.”

He said that Otto has definitely brought joy to the Sheriff’s Office. 

According to a press release, the primary mission of this K9 unit — and Otto (besides being a good boy) — is to support Pitkin County schools by bolstering the emotional well-being of students. 

Otto will help to address the stressors that young people face, and this new initiative seeks to strengthen the bond between the Sheriff’s Office and the school community. 

“There was an observational study that was done by Arapaho County that matched a dog with a resource officer,” Lucchesi said.

He said that Arapaho shared their study findings with Pitkin County.

“The benefits that they (Arapaho) saw by matching a dog with an SRO, and the impacts it had in a school setting, were positive and was a good situation all around,” he said. 

Otto’s first objective is to earn his Canine Good Citizen certificate, a crucial step toward his certification as a therapy dog.

“We are thrilled to welcome Otto as the first K9 officer in the history of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office,” said Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione. 

He added, “This initiative represents a significant step forward in our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Pitkin County residents.” 

Buglione said that with Otto’s unique skills and the dedicated of deputies at the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Department, he is aiming to create a safer, more connected community.