NH OpK9 Med
Non Profit 501(c)3 
NH Registered Charity
 

Ashlyn is a Certified Veterinary Technician  that has been practicing in Veterinary Medicine in NH, MA and NC since 2006. She has been in ICU/Critical Care and Trauma since 2009. Ashlyn is the President of NHOPK9 and has been active in working with the Manchester and Portsmouth Police Departments to get “Max’s Law” passed. Her passion for education and learning has helped her become the Continuing Education Committee Chair for the NH Veterinary Technician Association and the Nurse Manager at the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester.  She has attended and has been an instructor in K9-TECC programs provided by OPK9 Maine and Veterinary Tactical Group.

Cindy has been a Certified Veterinary Technician in New Hampshire for 20 years. She has been in ICU/Critical care since 2006. Cindy is the Vice President of NHOPK9 and has been active in working with the Manchester and Portsmouth Police Department to get “Max’s Law” passed. Her passion for teaching has helped her become an adjunct faculty member of the University of New Hampshire Veterinary Technician Program and part of the education/training team at the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester.  She has attended and has been an instructor in K9-TECC programs provided by OPK9 Maine and Veterinary Tactical Group.

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Dr Chara Batchelder has been involved in the veterinary field for over 20 years and has been practicing as a veterinarian for ten years. A New Hampshire native, she obtained a bachelors of science degree in biology from Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s of science degree in biology from Towson University in Baltimore. In 2013, she obtained her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing veterinary school, she did a year-long internship as a clinical veterinarian at Pfizer, followed by three years of per diem work at various general practices and emergency hospitals in New Hampshire. She has served as the supervising veterinarian at the Manchester Animal Shelter for the last eight years. Currently, she works at the Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester where she has been a full-time emergency and critical care veterinarian for the last seven years and per diem at Dartmouth Medical School as a clinical veterinarian providing research support.

​Ben has been a Police Officer with the City of Manchester for 17 years. He joined the Manchester K9 Unit in 2011 with his first partner K9 Moose (Dual Purpose Patrol/Narcotics). They attended the Boston Police K9 Academy. After a successful 8 year career K9 Moose retired. Ben attended the Boston K9 Academy again with his current partner, K9 Hank (Dual Purpose Patrol/EOD/Ballistics). In 2021 Ben was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned as a supervisor in the K9 Unit. In 2022 Ben received his training certification and became a trainer for the unit. Over the last 13 years with the K9 Unit he has held certifications as a Police K9 Handler and Trainer through the Boston K9 Academy as well as national certifications as a patrol/narcotics/EOD and ballistics team through the United Stated Police Canine Association and the ATF.

Brandon started in the Fire Service in 2006, as well as working as a Paramedic since 2014. He is currently a Captain with the Bow Fire Department, and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordinator at the Elliot Hospital. He also serves as a Medic with the Central New Hampshire Special Operations Unit.

Officer Jeffrey Hennessy has been with the Manchester Police Department since November 2016 serving as a patrolman on the midnight shift. He has been assigned to the K-9 Unit for the past 2 years with his current partner, K-9 Kane. Officer Hennessy is currently a National Registered EMT-B, which he has held since 2013. He is also a reservist with the United States Marine Corps

Bill Werner has been a police officer for the City of Portsmouth since 2015 and a K-9 handler since 2020. Bill’s K-9 partner, Frankie, is a Belgian Malinois who is duel certified in Patrol and Explosive Ordinance Detection. Bill is also an active Operator on the Seacoast Emergency Response Team as well as a Field Training Officer.  Additionally, he holds Instructor certifications in both Active Shooter Response, as well as Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).