'ONYX' IS KEY PLAYER IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS IN COFFEE COUNTY

COFFEE COUNTY - If there's a tiny amount of marijuana hidden anywhere,
whether it's tucked in the lining of a shoe or inside a big book stashed
beneath clutter in a school locker, "Onyx" will find it. He'll find it fast
and he'll find it every time, making the four-year-old German Shepherd a
key player in the battle against drugs in Coffee County. Onyx works full
time for the Coffee County Sheriff's Department on the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
shift with his partner of the past two-and-a-half years, K-9 handler,
Deputy Danny Ferrell. Onyx is trained to detect the odors of marijuana,
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. He and Ferrell stay on-call 24 hours a
day to respond to any law enforcement situation involving narcotics,
including providing assistance to both the Tullahoma and Manchester police
departments and the District Attorney's special Drug Task Force Unit. In
2003, Onyx worked on between 200 to 500 cases, ranging from simple
possession to large narcotics racketeering, Ferrell said. Onyx and Deputy
Ferrell worked several 12-hour shifts throughout last summer's three-day
Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester and were involved with most all of
the drug arrests made there. "He's the best weapon we've got as far as drug
enforcement," Capt. Rodney Banks said. Onyx received his original training
at a sheriff's department in Tipton, Ga. His commands were taught in
German, which Ferrell had to learn to be his handler. As part of annual
re-certification requirements mandated by the National Narcotics Drug Dog
Detectors Association and the United States Police Canine Association,
Deputy Ferrell provides at least 16 hours a month additional training for
Onyx by placing drugs, or a "hide," in cars or empty boxes for him to find.
Ferrell also stages building searches where drugs are hidden in drawers or
closets, and school searches by placing the "hide" in lockers or inside
desks and duffel bags. Onyx consistently performs with near perfection.
Although he is dedicated and obsessed with his work, part of the reason
he's so good at it is due purely to genetics. "Dogs have a much keener
sense of smell than humans do. They can detect much smaller quantities of
drugs than humans," Ferrell said. "As part of his training, I'll take a
piece of marijuana, a 'blunt' about the size of the tip of a pencil, and
put it inside the office copier machine and he'll find it." Onyx is
intelligent and obedient. He doesn't have to be mean to do his work, and
has never bitten anybody since he's been Ferrell's partner. It's a result
of what Ferrell calls "passive training." "When he finds a 'hide' he'll get
all excited, then he'll just sit there. He'll freeze; he doesn't scratch or
damage cars. "He's well-mannered, not an aggressive dog, and his 'alert' is
sitting down," Ferrell said. "Throughout the year, I'll go to different
schools and explain to kindergartners, first, and second graders how the
dog works, and then afterward, I'll let them pet him. "I play with him
quite a bit but I don't let other officers play with him, and I don't let
anyone pet him when he's searching a vehicle or otherwise working. The only
time he gets distracted is when there are other dogs around. He's very
territorial," Ferrell said. Onyx is also very protective - of Ferrell, the
patrol car they ride in, and also Ferrell's wife and children. When Ferrell
takes Onyx home every day after work, Onyx becomes a pet like any other
dog. "He's real good at home," Ferrell said. "I never have any problems out
of him, but then, I take good care of him, too. "Every night we'll play,
and then when I put him in the car, I'll tell him it's time to go to work
and he knows. "Anytime I'm working, he's in the car with me. When I'm on
duty, he's on duty, too," he added. Ferrell hopes that Onyx will have a
permanent place in the back seat of his patrol car. Sheriff Steve Graves,
who has consistently praised the good work of dogs within the department,
has assured him that he will. The two obviously make a successful team.
"I've always liked dogs and always wanted to work with one," Ferrell said.
"He's a good partner and companion. "He listens to me. If I'm in a bad mood
or not feeling very good, that runs right down through the leash to him and
he senses it. He makes my job a whole lot easier."