TRAINING A TREAT FOR DRUG DOGS

Police K-9 Teams Travel From Five States To Get Certification For Upcoming
Field Trials

WAYCROSS, Ga. - Artus was happy as a puppy rolling in clover.

The 3-year-old schnauzer sat back on his haunches and barked excitedly
Wednesday to summon his partner, Sgt. Cedric Brown of the Camden County
Sheriff's Department.

Artus had just found a small cache of cocaine hidden inside a car. He
thumped his stubby tail on the ground and turned his muzzle upward to bask
in Sgt. Brown's praise.

"You are a such a good dog. Yes, you are. Let's go. Find them. Get the
drugs," Sgt. Brown said as they approached a beat-up utility truck.

They are among police K-9 teams from Georgia and four other states
participating in certification for field trials during a weeklong seminar
held for the fifth year at the Waycross Police Department.

"This is a game for them. Play time. It's what the dogs like to do, and
they are good at it," Lt. Duane Caswell of the Waycross Police Department
said as he watched Artus and Sgt. Brown work.

Thirty-two police K-9 teams from Georgia, South Carolina, Florida,
Massachusetts and Indiana are participating in the seminar, which began
Monday and ends today.

Master trainers from the North American Police Work Dog Association are
conducting the seminar.

Waycross' three canine teams have been participating in the training. The
department has two German Shepherds and a Belgian Malinois, Lt. Caswell said.

The seminar has been bittersweet for Lt. Greg Jackson, commander of the
Camden County Sheriff's Department K-9 unit..

Lt. Jackson's longtime partner, Bandit, an 11-year-old black Labrador
retriever, is blind in one eye and lost some mobility after suffering a
stroke about five weeks ago.

Lt. Jackson said it's strange not having Bandit by his side.

On Wednesday, the K-9 teams did drug detection, building searches, suspect
apprehension and handler protection exercises.

Other Georgia K-9 teams undergoing the training include police from
Blackshear and Alpharetta, the Dooly County Sheriff's Department, Georgia
State Patrol troopers, Department of Natural Resources rangers and
Department of Corrections officers.

They swapped tips and shared past case experiences with their out-of-state
colleagues.

Police Chief Jack Hagy, of the Yemassee, S.C., Police Department, brought
Savannah, his 4-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever trained in detecting
marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs.

Interstate 95, which authorities say is frequented by drug traffickers,
runs through Yemassee, a community of about 1,000 residents.

Savannah has made several large busts, including finding a half-pound of
marijuana and $25,000 in drug money during her four years on duty, Chief
Hagy said.

"We're a small community, but we've got a drug problem just like everywhere
else," he said. "Savannah's a real laid-back dog, and she's got a good nose
for sniffing out drugs."