The Rockland County Sheriff’s Office has officially welcomed its newest certified K-9 patrol team after Patrol Officer Tom Zinna and his partner, K-9 Stewart, successfully graduated from an intensive 16-week Patrol K-9 School hosted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

During the training program, Officer Zinna and K-9 Stewart earned New York State DCJS certification in obedience, tracking, article searches, handler protection, and criminal apprehension, qualifying them to serve as a fully certified K-9 patrol team.

K-9 Stewart, a 19-month-old German Shepherd imported from Hungary, was named in honor of former Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Chief Harry A. Stewart, whose 43 years of dedicated service left a lasting impact on the agency. Chief Stewart passed away in January 2021 following a brief illness.

The K-9 was generously purchased and donated to the Sheriff’s Office by Clarkstown resident Michelle Mattei in memory of her late grandfather, Hugo Dumke, who served as a mounted police officer in Germany. Officials said the donation strengthens the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit while enhancing public safety throughout Rockland County.

This fall, Officer Zinna and K-9 Stewart are scheduled to continue their training by attending explosives detection school, further expanding the team’s capabilities in serving and protecting the community.