MOREHEAD Ky. (WKYT) – Whether it’s tracking down a suspect in the woods or identifying illegal substances, a man’s best friend plays a crucial role in any police department.
Now, smaller departments are also able to acquire these four legged helpers.
“They can be anywhere from $13,000 to $20,000,” Lieutenant of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Tommy Parker said. “I mean that’s just for the dog and the training itself of that handler.”
That’s why Parker helps run a yearly four-day K-9 training for any agency in the state to come learn and teach their K-9s everything from location tactics and narcotic detecting to simple obedience drills and teamwork.
“You see so many different badges floating around out here but when they are at this type of event, they are all working together,” he said.
With just a $75 fee, the K-9s are able to learn specialized skills and earn certifications that go beyond what humans can accomplish on their own.
“They do things we can’t,” Parker said. “Their factors in their nose and the things that they can smell like we have found elderly people that have wandered off and walked away. We’ve found autistic children so they are an absolute asset to any agency.”
Being in a K-9 unit for over 8 years, Parker said that the job of being a K-9 also comes with a best friend for life.
“You work an eight ten to 12 hour shift with that dog,” he said. “You spend literally more time with them than you do with your own wife and children a lot of times. He’s a part of your family.”
Parker said they plan to be back next year to train the new set of furry life-savers.
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