NEWEST DEPUTY HAS FOUR LEGS, NO UNIFORM

The Aransas County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) has a new deputy on staff,
but he won't be recognized by a uniform or a badge. In addition, the
latest staff member's hiring was made possible by the generosity of
two local residents who are committed to the community.

Deputy Flaco, a two-year-old Labrador, was purchased, and
Investigator Lou Lourcey was sent to Somerset to train with him. The
two are now ready to hit the streets and schools in Aransas County in
an effort to abate the drug problem in the community.

Chris and Karra Crowley, who moved to Aransas County from California
in 2005, believed having a canine on staff would benefit the ACSO.
Their belief and commitment was manifested by their $12,000 donation
to the ACSO mounted posse. The funds were used to purchase the dog,
as well as to convert a Ford F150 to carry the canine. Funds also
will be used for food and veterinary care for Flaco.

Sheriff Mark Gilliam explained the ACSO had just completed the 2008
budget process when the Crowleys approached the department about a
canine unit. The sheriff said he did not want to ask the
commissioners court for more funds, and that is when the Crowleys
stepped up and offered the donation.

C. Crowley said at first they talked about having a patrol/attack
dog, but the ACSO was concerned about the liability. Crowley had no
problem with the change to obtaining a drug dog instead.

The sheriff pointed out patrol dogs are great, but with the large
number of burglaries and forgeries directly linked to drugs, they
believed acquiring a drug dog would be a better option.

He also hopes this will help curb the drug problem in the schools by
coordinating with the Aransas County Independent School District
officers to conduct random searches. With that in mind, ACSO
investigators opted for the labrador, which is a more friendly,
playful dog, rather than using the more common German shepherd.

The sheriff also said when seeking an investigator to take charge of
the canine, he spoke to Lourcey first and asked if he would take the
position. He explained the job doesn't end after an eight-hour shift
as the canine officer has to take the dog home with him and care for
him.

Lourcey readily agreed and is enjoying the task immensely. The
investigator, who has four grown children, said it is almost like
having a child in the house again. Even his wife, who was skeptical
at first, has taken to Flaco.

Gilliam and Lourcey said they are ready to put Flaco to work not only
during the execution of warrants, but for traffic stops, searches
through local school campuses, and at the county's new weigh station.

The care and maintenance of the new deputy is covered for the year
due to the Crowleys and another $500 donation. The sheriff hopes
through Flaco's work, drug seizures will occur which will net funding
to continue paying for his upkeep, which in turn will help the ACSO
put a dent in the local drug trade.