NC TROOPERS ASSOCIATION K-9 UNIT
Behind every successful mission at the North Carolina Troopers Association K-9 Search and Recovery Unit (NCTA K9 SAR) is a dedicated team of volunteers. From skilled handlers to compassionate support staff, our team works tirelessly to provide justice, closure, and hope to families and communities across North Carolina.
JACK THORPE
NCTA K-9 DIRECTOR
Jack Thorpe is a Deputy with the Nash County Sheriff's Office and retired Sergeant from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (2023). A Search and Rescue K9 Handler since 2001, Jack has led over 600 Search and Rescue missions, resulting in 80 recoveries of bodies and evidence.
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Currently partnered with K9 Fiji, a certified Human Remains Detection dog, Jack responds to critical cases such as drownings, suicides, and homicides. His expertise extends to training K9s for land and water detection, utilizing advanced tools like Side Scan Sonar to locate victims with precision.
Jack’s career highlights include lifesaving efforts such as delivering CPR, rescuing abuse victims, and contributing to high-profile cases, including the recoveries of Hania Aguilar and Mariah Woods, leading to justice for their families. His dedication has earned him prestigious awards like the Distinguished Service Award, the Governor’s Award for Excellence, and a nomination for America’s Most Wanted All-Star Award.
With his unmatched experience and commitment, Jack continues to serve his community, ensuring the NCTA K9 Unit remains a trusted resource for justice, closure, and hope.
ACTIVE K9
RETIRED K9s
NCTA K-9 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Annissia Justice joined NCTA K9 in October 2022 and has been involved in Search and Rescue (SAR) for four years. Partnered with K9 Dahlia, she brings dedication and skill to every mission. In addition to her role with NCTA K9, Annissia owns and operates Cultured Canine, a professional dog training company she started three years ago.
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With eight years of professional dog training experience, Annissia has achieved remarkable milestones, including training one of the only two dogs in the country to detect chlorinated water leaks for a local water company—a testament to her expertise and innovation in the field.
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"I love being a part of a unit that is incredibly mission-focused. In my time with NCTA K9, I have really become a part of the family. I enjoy working with other like-minded individuals who share my passion for helping others."
- Annissia
ACTIVE K9
RETIRED K9
ANNISSIA JUSTICE
JULIE BAUMMER
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
Julie Baummer is a dedicated search and rescue professional who joined the field in 2019. Certified by the American Man Trailing Police & Work Dog Association (AMPWDA) in trailing and area search, Julie is also an instructor and evaluator for Air Scent Live Find. In addition, she holds the SARTECH II certification and, in 2023, earned her NASAR evaluator status for both air scent/area search and human remains detection.
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Julie’s passion for search and rescue is matched by her commitment to mentoring and supporting the larger SAR community. She actively contributes to NCTA K9 through her expertise in training and evaluating teams, helping to maintain the unit's reputation for excellence. Julie emphasizes the importance of collaboration and professional development, which strengthens the unit's ability to provide justice, closure, and hope.
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Julie has trained and worked with several K9 partners, each bringing unique strengths to search and rescue missions.
ACTIVE K9s
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
Dwight Jeckel brings a wealth of experience to NCTA K9, with a background as a Captain-Firefighter/EMT with the Wake New Hope Fire Department since 2009 and as a Commercial Pilot Captain (Line Check Airman) with NETJETS since 2006. A licensed pilot since 1992, Dwight has accumulated over 17,000 flight hours, including a career with United Airlines and 20 years in corporate aviation.
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Dwight’s service in the US Coast Guard as a unit rescue swimmer and small boat operator further highlights his commitment to public safety. During his tenure, he participated in helo operations, maritime law enforcement, and search and rescue missions, building expertise in high-pressure, life-saving scenarios.
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In 2023, Dwight became a K9 handler, specializing in live find area search and trailing. Partnered with K9 Maverick, a 3-year-old German Shepherd who joined NCTA K9 in 2024, Dwight continues to contribute his exceptional skills and dedication to helping those in need.
ACTIVE K9
DWIGHT JECKEL
BETH TRAYNHAM
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
Beth Traynham retired as a partner from a large regional accounting firm to pursue her passion for community service and canine training. She began volunteering with national organizations that train service dogs and earned certifications in Canine Training and Behavior and Advanced Canine Training through the Animal Behavior Institute.
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In 2022, Beth welcomed Chelly, a black German Shepherd with exceptional intelligence and energy, into her life. Chelly excelled in obedience training, earning the AKC Canine Good Citizen designation and achieving multiple levels of agility proficiency.
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In February 2024, Beth and Chelly joined NCTA K9, combining Beth’s dedication to community service with their shared commitment to canine training. Together, they bring enthusiasm and skill to the search and rescue community, contributing to the unit's mission of providing justice, closure, and hope.
ACTIVE K9
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
Crissy Jeckel is a dedicated member of NCTA K9, bringing a passion for service and a strong community-focused background. She is married to fellow team member Dwight Jeckel and is a proud mother of three grown children and grandmother to three, whom she helps care for. Crissy holds degrees in Psychology from the University of Colorado and a Real Estate Paralegal certificate from Meredith College.
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Crissy has extensive volunteer experience, having served as President and member of the Wake New Hope Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and supporting organizations like the Wakefield High School football team. Her commitment to exploring new ways to contribute to her community led her to join NCTA K9 as a K9 handler.
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Since 2023, Crissy has worked with her husband, Dwight, and their K9 partner, Maverick, a 3-year-old German Shepherd specializing in live find area search and trailing. Crissy is excited to continue developing her skills in K9 handling and is proud to be part of the team.
ACTIVE K9
CRISSY JECKEL
DAVID HARLEY
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
David Harley is a dedicated dog trainer with two years of experience, focusing on building strong, positive relationships between dogs and their owners. His training expertise has helped numerous dogs develop obedience and good behavior, showcasing his commitment to canine development. In his free time, David enjoys hiking and exploring nature, activities that align with his passion for working with animals and his love for the outdoors.
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David’s interest in search and rescue (SAR) began at age 14 when he participated in training exercises with a neighbor’s search dogs. This experience inspired him to join the SAR community, starting as a Ground Pounder and advancing to K9 handler. Currently, David is training his Belgian Malinois, Sidewinder, in Human Remains Detection (HRD) and is excited to further his contributions to the field.
ACTIVE K9
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
Athena Haus brings over 30 years of Search and Rescue (SAR) experience, including 26 years in public service as a Firefighter/Paramedic and Fire Officer. As a Founding Member of FEMA Ohio Task Force One, Athena played a key role in developing the team’s training programs and disaster site infrastructure, serving as a Search Team Manager, Canine Coordinator, and Canine Search Specialist. She has also worked as a Canine Search Specialist with FEMA California Task Force One and Indiana Task Force One, deploying as a canine asset with all three FEMA teams.
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For the past 20 years, Athena has traveled the country as an instructor, evaluator, and facilitator, specializing in live find disaster search, wilderness SAR, and human remains detection for both land and disaster scenarios. She has responded to numerous missing person and disaster calls for local, state, and federal agencies. Athena also served as a Commanding Fire Officer, managing large-scale incidents in a Unified Command Structure, and frequently consults as a subject matter expert for disaster training exercises, providing expertise in search strategy, planning, and resource management.
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Athena is the founder of K9 Karma, a canine training business focused on working canines and behavioral issues, and developed the BARK (Basic Aid to Responder K9) program. Partnering with Tri-Med Tactical, she offers hands-on canine medical training for handlers in disaster and tactical environments, ensuring that teams are better prepared to manage canine injuries.
ACTIVE K9s
ATHENA HAUS
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
Trisha Danula has been a professional firefighter with Fairfax County Fire & Rescue since 2002 and began her canine career on Virginia Task Force 1, one of only two teams in the country that deploy internationally with their canine partners. Throughout her career, Trisha has worked with her live find K9 Xandr and human remains detection K9 Tuula, both of whom have deployed on FEMA missions.
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Trisha is an HR Land Evaluator for the American Rescue Dog Association and has served as an instructor at various HR seminars. Additionally, she holds a NASAR SARTECH II certification, further demonstrating her expertise and commitment to the field.
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"I enjoy being on the NCTA K9 unit because we all know our job and pride ourselves on being professionals. We train and challenge each other to grow as handlers while serving our community."
-Trisha
ACTIVE K9s
RETIRED K9
TRISHA DANULA
NCTA K-9 K9 HANDLER
Christian Soles was raised in Stanly County, NC, with a lifelong passion for working with animals and a deep interest in search and recovery, particularly cadaver detection. Her career in animal welfare began early—at just 15, she worked as a waitress before transitioning into roles as a kennel technician and later a veterinary assistant.
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Her dedication to animal welfare led her to shadow an experienced Animal Control Officer, solidifying her decision to pursue that career path. Christian became a certified Cruelty Investigator, relentlessly pushing her county agency to provide training opportunities. However, she wanted to take her role a step further. After years of investigating cruelty cases and handing them off for prosecution, she made the bold decision at 40 to attend Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) and become a Deputy for the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
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Christian is partnered with K9 Wren, who is actively training in Human Remains Detection (HRD). Together, they are committed to aiding search and recovery efforts with the NCTA K9 Unit.
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When she’s not working or training, Christian enjoys spending time with her family as a proud mother of three and grandmother of two.
ACTIVE K9
CHRISTIAN SOLES
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
Your contribution makes a difference. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the NCTA K9 Search and Recovery Unit relies on donations to train and equip our K9 teams, support our volunteers, and provide vital services to families and communities. Help us continue providing search and rescue services and supporting our community.