The Evansville State Police Post is welcoming a new K-9 team. Trooper Gage Cummings and his partner, Bane, graduated this week from the Indiana State Police K-9 Training School in Indianapolis. Cummings, a three-year ISP veteran, completed the 12-week course that includes more than 480 hours of work in tracking, evidence searches, narcotics detection, and apprehension. Bane is a one-year-old Dutch Shepherd from Poland and will now serve the Evansville District.

The Jasper Post is also adding a new team. Trooper Austin Collins and his K-9, Leo, were part of the same graduating class. Leo is a young Belgian Malinois, also from Poland. Collins, a Marine Corps veteran and three-year trooper, will deploy with Leo on calls across the Jasper District.

State Police leaders say both teams are stepping into a demanding assignment that requires long hours and significant family commitment, and they thanked the handlers and their families for taking on the role.