TRAINED CANINE ADDS BITE TO KINGFISHER DRUG FORCE

KINGFISHER - The newest member of the Kingfisher County Sheriff's
Department has a nose for crime. He has contributed to dozens of
felony drug arrests in five months on the force, authorities said.
Deputy Bill Huffman with the Kingfisher County Sheriff's Department
and Eddie, the department's 5-year-old drug-sniffing canine. Photo by
Bryan Terry

Eddie, a 5-year-old drug-sniffing German shepherd, was activated for
duty on April Fool's Day. The dog's handler, Deputy Bill Huffman, said
it is no joking matter when he pulls alongside a stopped car and walks
his partner around the vehicle for a drug search.

If Eddie finds drugs, he gets to partake in his favorite pastime --
playing with a small rubber ball. Nothing excites him more, Huffman
said.

"When he's smelling that drug, he thinks he's smelling that ball,"
Huffman. "He only gets it after he finds the drugs."

The treat is a play toy attached to a rope. Eddie was trained to
receive it when he smells drugs and alerts his handler. Eddie is a
passive-alert dog, which means he sits when he detects drugs, Huffman
said.

Huffman said Eddie has become a highlight of a 10-year career in law
enforcement. Huffman worked at several police departments before
joining the county sheriff's office nearly three years ago.

He said the dog has been involved in nearly 60 percent of the drug
arrests made since he arrived. Deputies hope Eddie also will help curb
drug traffic at area schools.

"He lets us do what we need to do to get the job done," Huffman said.
"He's here to support us."

Eddie has helped create a load of additional work for the district
attorney's office, Huffman said.

The department's idea to begin a drug dog unit was made possible by
donations from various civic groups and individuals in Kingfisher.

"People are still donating," Huffman said "Churches. School groups.
And, 4-H is going to do a fund-raiser."

The department's success spread quickly. Nearby Okarche joined the
drug-dog interdiction club by soliciting nearly $6,000 in donations to
buy a trained drug dog.

Agri, a 22-month-old, short-hair shepherd, began working in June. His
handler, officer Frank Tinga, said the dog has contributed to about 20
felony drug possession cases.

"It was pretty tough without the dog," said Tinga of drug enforcement.
"It's definitely been a boon to law enforcement. Just the mere thought
that we can walk a dog around a car for any reason. As the Supreme
Court said, people have no right to privacy for having stuff they're
not supposed to have anyway."

The High Court held in January that a dog sniff during a lawful
traffic stop does not violate the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable
search and seizure.

As a result of this decision, more drugs have been removed from
Kingfisher County highways, authorities said.

Kingfisher Police Chief Dennis Baker, whose department has used both
dogs, has seen the benefits.

"Both have lended themselves to us and been cooperative with our
efforts," Baker said. "I overwhelmingly support it."