Pictured are Alyson Maher, Judd Bohall, Ashley Edwards and Jennifer Briggs of Bayview Financial Group with Deputy Dana Kapuscinski and K-9 Rich, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office new K-9 officer named in honor of the late Undersheriff Richard Telford.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office has welcomed K-9 Rich into service this month, honoring the legacy of late Undersheriff Richard Telford.

The new K-9 officer was made possible through a donation from Judd Bohall, Bayview Financial Group managing partner Judd Bohall, that covered the full purchase cost of K-9 Rich, a one-year-old German Shepherd now certified and actively serving alongside the department.

K-9 teams play a role in tracking, public safety response, suspect apprehension, and community protection. For the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the addition of K-9 Rich and his handler, Deputy Dana Kapuscinski, strengthens those capabilities while honoring the legacy of one of the department’s most respected leaders.

Undersheriff Richard Telford gave more than 30 years of service to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, rising through the ranks to become one of its most trusted leaders before his passing in September 2024. The decision to name the department’s new K-9 in his honor was a deliberate tribute to the decades of service he dedicated to this community.

Andrew Telford, the Undersheriff’s son, reflected on the emotional significance of seeing his father’s legacy carried forward through the department’s newest K-9.

“It’s really a way for him to be embodied, to carry on that service,” he said. “Like it’s kind of a new generation.”

Bohall was joined in his financial commitment to the project by Alyson Maher, a junior partner at Bayview Financial Group.

“I was pleased to be presented with the opportunity, and I was happy to help out,” Bohall said. “When you are rooted in a place the way we are, investing in the people who protect it is not something you have to think twice about.”

Bohall also spoke directly to the significance of the tribute itself.

“We understood this was about much more than funding a police dog,” he said. “This was about honoring a man who gave so much to this county and helping carry that legacy forward in a meaningful way. That is something we were proud to be part of.”

The dedication ceremony took place recently at the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office. Family, deputies, and community members gathered to mark the occasion, and the Telford family was presented with a custom engraved wooden plaque in honor of Telford’s service and sacrifice.

“K-9 Rich represents both the future of our department’s capabilities and a respect for the longstanding dedication of those who came before us,” said Sheriff James B. Quattrone. “We are incredibly grateful to Judd Bohall and our local business partners for their support in making this team a reality.”

K-9 Rich was purchased from Shallow Creek Kennels in February 2026. He has successfully

completed Phase 1 of his training, which included Human Tracking, Obedience, and Apprehension work, and received his New York State Certification in May 2026. The team is scheduled to return to training in September 2026 to begin Phase 2, focused on specialized explosives detection certification.

“Having Undersheriff Telford as my supervisor, and being able to honor him by naming the dog after him, was great,” said Kapuscinski.

Additional local partners contributed materials and labor to construct a new kennel for the team, including Billy Close of Close Concrete, Ode’s Services, and JMI. The collaborative effort reflects the kind of shared investment in public safety that Quattrone described as essential to the department’s long-term success.

“Without partners like Bayview Financial Group, achieving these goals would be difficult,” Sheriff Quattrone wrote in a letter to Bohall following the donation. “Your support has a significant impact on our ability to serve and protect.”

For Bohall, the investment reflects a belief that has guided Bayview Financial Group since its founding.

“This is home,” he said. “The families we work with every day are the same families that K-9 Rich and Deputy Kapuscinski are out there protecting. That connection matters deeply to us.”