Died – 9/6/22
Handler – Ranger Steve Sanocki
Park Rangers’ K-9 Dies Of Cancer
The Bucks County Rangers’ four-legged officer has died. K-9 Ni-Taas, whose handler was Ranger Steve Sanocki, died last Tuesday after a several months-long battle with cancer. Ni-Taas was 7 years old. Lastmonth at the Middletown Grange Fair in Wrightstown Township, Sanocki and Ni-Taas were greeting fairgoers at the county government’s tent.Sanocki and Ni-Taas joined the rangers, who patrols county park property, in August 2020 after both retired from the Bristol Township Police Department.Bucks County Chief Ranger Steve Mawhinney told LevittownNow.com the passing of Ni-Taas is a loss for the agency. He called the four-legged officer “lovable, kind, and friendly.”“ K-9 Ni-Taas will be missed by all. Our thoughts go out to his partner Park Ranger Sanocki and his family. Rest In Peace Ni-Taas,” Bristol Township officials said in a statement. Ni-Taas means “my friend” in the indigenous Lenape language. During his time with the rangers, Ni-Taas responded to many calls at county parks, assisted surrounding police departments, and acted as a goodwill ambassador for the rangers, a small agency with a big mandate. Last year, he took part in a bomb search in Middletown Township.Ni-Taas was the ranger’s only K-9 unit.