Southaven students raising funds to buy gun-sniffing dog(TN)

Josey1

Southaven students raising funds to buy gun-sniffing dogBy Sheila Edmundsonedmundson@desotoappeal.comStudents at Southaven schools are chipping in to buy a special Christmas present for the Southaven Police Department. The gift: an $8,000 gunpowder-sniffing dog that'll patrol the schools and city. "In light of events that have happened in recent years like the Columbine tragedy and the shootings in Jonesboro, we need extra security at our schools," said Julie Johnson, a Greenbrook Elementary parent who spearheaded the effort to purchase the pup. Johnson, who also serves on Southaven's planning commission, said she hoped to purchase bulletproof vests for the three dogs in the department's K-9 unit until the department said it was in greater need of a dog that could sniff out explosives. "They've been trying to get a dog like this for three years, but the budget just wouldn't allow," Johnson said. "So I got together with all the Southaven principals and the superintendent, and we decided this was something we could do to help our community." The police department has three dogs - Rocky, a Belgian Malinois, and two German shepherds, Fagan and Bach. All three are trained to catch suspects and sniff out drugs, but none is trained to sniff out guns. The new K-9, which is also a Belgian Malinois, is expected to arrive next week, said Lt. Frank Rainey, a dog handler for the department. "It'll come in handy in the schools and businesses," Rainey said. "If we get a report at a school that someone has a gun in their locker, he'll be able to go in and find it, same with bomb threats at businesses." If a business receives a bomb threat, the department has to borrow a dog from the airport police in Memphis. But since the Sept. 11 attacks, the dogs have been hard to come by, Rainey said. If they can't get a dog, he said, "It's a waiting game. We just have to evacuate the building and wait to see if anything happens for a while, then we go in and search the building ourselves." Though he's a pricey pup, organizers of the fund-raiser say they'll reach their goal if every student brings a dollar. "There are more than 7,000 students in the Southaven area schools," Johnson said. "We're just asking them to bring in a dollar for the dog." But the department still needs funds to equip a patrol car to carry him and to build a kennel. Johnson said a bank account has been set up for the fund-raiser at AmSouth Bank at Airways and Goodman. "We're hoping some businesses and individuals will help with this, since everyone will benefit from it." She said she hopes also to have a contest in the schools to name the dog. "Kids and dogs go hand in hand," She said. "This is going to be the kids' and community's dog. I think it's going to bring a bit of peace of mind to parents and the people who live here." - Sheila Edmundson (901) 333-2014November 18, 2001 http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/desoto/article/0,1426,MCA_451_881461,00.html

Free N TX

What will happen when someone comes to school after going hunting or even just to the range with dad?? My son's like to help me when I do some reloading, so would a dog like that smell them out due to the handling of the components? I dare say there would be some strong words flying if my child were "detained" and humiliated due to a dogs nose. Hmmm, on the other hand, I could buy a new truck and pay off the mortgage with the money from the lawsuit though...... Bring on the dogs... I dare ya!