BAINBRIDGE, Ohio — A natural resources officer who patrols Rocky Fork State Park has a new partner after graduating from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ K9 training program.
Natural Resources Officer D’Angelo Thigpen, who is stationed at Rocky Fork State Park and serves the agency’s Southwest Unit C region, graduated alongside K9 Frank, a chocolate Labrador retriever, during a Nov. 10 ceremony at the Spring Valley Education Center in Waynesville, according to ODNR. Thigpen joined ODNR in 2020 and was selected as a K9 handler in March, the department said.
K9 Frank was purchased from Tar Heel K9 in Sanford, North Carolina, through donations from Friends of Ohio K9 and Little Blessings. Additional equipment, including collars, leashes, harnesses and first aid supplies, was donated by AMVETS Post 61, according to the department.
“These K9 teams provide invaluable support in search operations, evidence recovery, and public outreach,” Division of Parks and Watercraft Chief Glen Cobb said in a statement. “There is nothing more important to our officers than serving the public with professionalism, preparedness, and heart. We’re proud of Officer Thigpen and K9 Frank and excited to see the impact they will make across Ohio’s state parks and waterways.”
ODNR Director Mary Mertz said the new K9 teams “bring specialized skills, unmatched dedication, and a deep bond with their handlers.”
Two other K9 teams graduated alongside Thigpen and Frank: State Wildlife Officer Michele Butler with K9 River in Erie County, and State Wildlife Officer Gus Kiebel with K9 Gar in Adams County.
Across Ohio’s state parks, forests, waterways and wildlife areas, ODNR’s K9 teams assist with search and rescue missions, locate missing persons, support drug-related investigations and respond to emergencies, according to the department.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
