(FRANKLIN TWP., NJ – Nov. 1, 2025)  Police K-9 teams in Warren County now have a nearby place to practice, after the Warren County Board of County Commissioners cut the ribbon to open a county Law Enforcement K-9 Training Facility.

            The training center located at the Warren County Public Safety building was developed by the Warren County Police Chiefs Association after the Commissioners agreed last year to authorize space for the project.

            “This is ideal,” Washington Township Police Chief Christopher M. Jones said, noting the county’s police departments have had to send their K-9 officer and dog teams to facilities as far as Union County for training.

            In addition to a fenced area with various obstacles for the dogs to train and practice, the nearby buildings of the Warren County Fire Academy - including the burn tower with many rooms - and wooded areas of the property will offer additional scenarios for training, Jones said.

            Currently, four police departments in Warren County have six dogs trained for various uses, including detecting drugs, guns and explosives, tracking suspects and finding people who are lost. Two of the dogs – “Goose” and “Lupe” from Washington Township Police – and their police partners demonstrated their skills for the Commissioners during the ribbon-cutting event.

            “I was very impressed by the abilities of these incredible animals and the hard work and dedication of their handlers,” Warren County Commissioner Director Jason J. Sarnoski said. “K-9 units are a vital part of police operations across Warren County and this facility will be a valuable resource officers can use to enhance their effectiveness in the field,” Sarnoski added.

            Commissioner Lori Ciesla noted, “By opening this center we are able to provide our K-9s and their trainers with a place to go close to home, as opposed to driving across the state to train.”

            Ciesla added that police dogs are “trained to find people, drugs and explosives in a manner humans cannot. They are very motivated to get their job done, and then play a good round of fetch after! Watching them work at the ribbon cutting was a pleasure and I hope they all enjoy their new training center.”

            “I’m grateful for the collaboration with Washington Township that will allow Warren County to host all our K-9 officers from across the county,” Commissioner James R. Kern III said. “Providing our K-9 units with a dedicated, private training area will help reduce stress and travel time for both officers and their K-9 partners. I look forward to continued cooperation and teamwork within our law enforcement community,” Kern added.

Warren County Commissioners Lori Ciesla, Director Jason J. Sarnoski, and James R. Kern III snip the ribbon to officially open the new Warren County Law Enforcement K-9 Training Facility at the county Public Safety Department, while Washington Township Police Chief Christopher M. Jones, Independence Police Chief Chris Prell, Washington Township Mayor Robert Klingel, Phillipsburg Patrolman Michael Connaughton, Washington Township Patrolman Chris Santamaria and Washington Township Sgt. James Vernon watch.

Washington Township Patrolman Chris Santamaria and "Lupe"; "Goose" checks out a drainpipe in the training facility; "Lupe" shows how to grab a suspect's limb; Washington Township Sgt. James Vernon tells the Commissioners about what a police K-9 can do as "Goose" waits to demonstrate.