Yonkers PD K-9 unit gets first bloodhound 'Cali' and she's already making rescues

YONKERS, New York (WABC) -- There is high praise from a superior officer about one of his rookie cops, and that would be Cali.

The Yonkers Police Department has long employed German shepherds to sniff out bombs and drugs.

But Cali is the first bloodhound on the force and her job is to find people.

Not just bad guys, Cali can and has located missing residents and suicidal individuals.

Once Cali locks in on a scent, she's off! Sometimes she moves so fast she can barely be contained by her handler, sniffing and ruling out other subjects, until she finally finds her target.

Cali was bred for police work by a foundation in Florida. Her name is short for California where she was trained by a foster family. She has a sister in the NYPD.

Her work is serious. Cali was employee of the month for the entire city of Yonkers in February after tracking down a man in Van Cortland Park minutes before he was about to kill himself, and she helped locate an Alzheimer's patient who had wandered into a wooded area.

In many ways she is invaluable.