PULASKI STUDENTS RAISED MONEY TO PURCHASE DRUG DOG

PULASKI -- A crowd of students at Pulaski Middle School this week
greeted and petted Raider, an 18-month-old black European Labrador retriever.

Raider was introduced to the students on Wednesday at a special
assembly. In a way Raider belongs to them -- the middle school
helped raise $2,700 so the local police department could purchase
him as a drug dog.

The schools and the community collected more than $9,000, a
testament to the collaborative spirit of the community, said Pulaski
Police Chief Randal Dunford.

The police department had often talked about getting a drug dog, but
limited funds in the small department had prevented that from happening.

"It's always been a dream for the police department," Dunford said.
"It's difficult for a smaller force to get a drug dog."

In January, about 125 parents, students and community members
participated in the "Positive Pulaski" forum that focused on drug
and alcohol use among teens and pre-teens.

At the forum, Superintendent Mel Lightner brought up the idea of
having a community drug dog that would work with the schools as both
a proactive and preventive anti-drug tool as seen in other
communities. He said they raised $3,000 that night.

"That's the example of this community coming together," Lightner
said. In addition to the money to help buy the dog, a local vet will
provide care for the dog's physical needs, and others have promised
to cover food.

"He will be effective in keeping drugs out, but he definitely has a
greater purpose as a symbol," Lightner said. Named for the school's
mascot, Raider will be at community events and be a mainstay at school events.

Raider lives with handler Jim Tinlin, who has an office at the high
school, but he will be at the middle school often because Tinlin is
the school liaison officer for the district.

"He is first and foremost a good drug finder," Tinlin said. "But
he'll remind the kids that the community cares about them."

That's in part why the department chose to get a Labrador retriever
over other breeds typically used as police or drug dogs -- because
it's a popular breed that people are used to as a family dog.