“Uncle Joe” Potter and his wife Julie joined BSARD as K9 handlers in February 2008 with Bloodhounds Hank and Ruby, respectively, and for the next eleven years worked three IPWDA certified K9 partners. When needed, he also served as Operations Base Commander for the team, and he remained active until retiring for health reasons in 2019.
He was a former member of Boy Scouts Troop 82, where he earned his Eagle Scout. Joe was a 1965 graduate of Troy High School and afterward of Sinclair Community College in Dayton.
Joe was a decorated Army veteran, having served in Vietnam, where he was awarded three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. Returning to the US, he continued in the Army serving as a Drill Instructor.
After his military service, Joe joined the West Milton Police Department, then moved to the Troy Police Department where he worked his way up from Patrolman to Sergeant to Captain, and a brief time in 1998 as Acting Chief of Police, before retiring from the Troy PD in 2000.
Joe began experiencing some health issues and he and Jed retired from active operations in August 2017 after participating in 76 search operations.. He remained a member in absentia for the rest of his life.
Joe passed away peacefully on April 21, 2019 with Julie by his side.
K9 Jed, Active from 2014 to 2017
Jed (short for “Jedi”) was a male Labrador Retriever who started training with BSARD as a puppy in March 2014. His half-sister Pearl and half-brother Dalton were also on BSARD.
He and Joe were certified for Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water.
He retired from BSARD when Joe did. During their 3-1/2 years together they participated in 12 search operations.
K9 Doc, Active from 2008 to 2017
Doc was a male Labrador Retriever who started training with BSARD as a puppy in April 2008.
He and Joe were certified for Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water.
Doc was with BSARD for 8-1/2 years and participated in 42 search operations.
K9 Hank, Active from 2008 to 2014
“Hundred-mile-an-hour” Hank was a male Bloodhound who was certified in Mantrailing. He and Joe joined BSARD together and worked until Hank retired in March 2014.
During his 6 year tenure with BSARD he participated in 15 search operations.
