BALDWIN AUTHORITIES SEEK DRIVER WHO KILLED DAPHNE'S DRUG DOG

DAPHNE - Baldwin County Sheriff's authorities are searching for the person
who hit and killed the Daphne Police Department's drug-sniffing dog Friday
evening, Daphne police said.

Lord was hit by a small red subcompact car on Rigsby Road in front of his
handler's home in the Belforest community east of Daphne, said the dog's
handler, Cpl. Ken Weed.

The Sheriff's Department wants to question the driver, who did not stop, to
determine why the dog was hit, said Daphne police Capt. Charlie McNichol.
Sheriff's deputies are handling the case since it occurred outside Daphne
city limits, he added.

Weed said Lord, who had lived with him since the pooch was hired eight
months ago, had never before ventured beyond his house on 3 acres.

"We are trying to find out why he was up by the road," he said. "Was he
chasing something? If we could find the owner of the car, they can answer
some questions."

Lord had wandered about 200 feet from the garage to the road where he was
hit, Weed said. Usually, the dog stays in the fenced-in back yard with
canines Buddy and Goldie. But Weed had separated Lord and Buddy for fighting.

Lord took over as Daphne police's K-9 Unit when Buddy retired in April.

Weed was not at home when the dog was hit. A neighbor witnessed the
hit-and-run at 5:45 p.m. and told Weed's wife. Upon returning home, Weed
buried the dog on his property.

Using $5,000 in Drug Asset Forfeiture funds, Daphne police purchased the
dog to sniff out a variety of contraband from marijuana to cocaine, Weed
said. Lord has helped solve cases in Daphne as well as for state and
federal law enforcement agencies, McNichol said.

McNichol said the Daphne Police Department has enough funds set aside to
replace Lord. But the pooch, who made a drug find the day before he was
killed, will be missed.

"Ken felt like Lord had a pretty good future ahead of him," McNichol said.
"It was a pretty big loss for him."