DOING THEIR DOGGONE BEST TO KEEP DRUGS OUT OF COUNTY

GLADE SPRING -- When it comes to cracking cases, modern criminal
investigations have come to rely on newfangled technologies such as
computerized fingerprints and DNA analysis.

But one new investigator with the Washington County Sheriff's Office has
been trained to use another finely tuned investigative device -- his nose.

With that nose, Marco, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, can detect marijuana,
hashish, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, OxyContin and opium
derivatives, said sheriff's Deputy David McCown.

Together, the pair do their doggone best to keep drugs out of the county.

Standing with Sheriff Fred Newman outside Patrick Henry High School Tuesday
afternoon, McCown sorted through a file containing his canine partner's
certifications and achievements, and he discussed those accomplishments
with the same look of pride a parent might have while looking at
straight-A's on a child's report card.

The handsome tan and black dog has impressive credentials. He joined the
Sheriff's Office this winter from the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Prior to that, he trained for 15 weeks in narcotics-detection with the U.S.
Customs Service.

Narcotics-detecting dogs and their police handlers have to get certified
together so that evidence gained from their investigations may be used in
court, Newman said.

McCown and Marco got their state certification in Richmond in January.

Dogs must prove to judges that they have a series of skills, such as
screening luggage and drug detection in open areas, McCown said. Marco
scored a 100 percent rating in all the areas.

The Sheriff's Office has three other working dogs: Saber, a narcotics and
patrol dog who works with Deputy Bill Nunley; Eros, an explosives-detection
dog who works with Deputy Claude Mumpower; and Princess, a tracking dog who
works with Deputy Blaine Findley.

Newman said it takes a special kind of officer to take on the
responsibility of working with a canine. The officers who work with the
dogs go through rigorous training and spend 24 hours a day around the dogs,
he said.

McCown said he sought out the opportunity to work with a dog.

"It was one of my goals," he said.

Working dogs are very close to their handlers, McCown said, but they're not
supposed to be treated like family pets because attention is one of the
rewards when they do their jobs.

Some police dogs are given commands in German, McCown said, but Marco has
only one command: "Sit."

Marco has a down-to-business attitude, McCown said. When he finds
narcotics, he becomes aggressive and starts biting, he said. Handlers have
to make the dogs sit upon finding the drugs so they won't ingest them, he said.

Newman said Marco's expertise already has paid off. The dog, which was
given to Washington County by the state, was instrumental in finding a
methamphetamine lab in January, the sheriff said.

He also is used to search for drugs at middle schools and high schools,
Newman said.

Even with his impressive record, Marco has some big paw prints to fill.
He's replacing McCown's last partner, an accomplished Labrador retriever
named Mocha who retired in March.

Mocha was retired from the force because she was slowing down, McCown said.

In her prime, Mocha rang up some high-profile drug busts. Her participation
in Sheriff's Office investigations netted drug seizures and confiscation of
vehicles and money that yielded more than $100,000 for the county, the
sheriff said.

The dog with a glossy coat and a happy-go-lucky smile also won the hearts
of many Washington Countians. She often demonstrated her skills at schools,
churches and community centers.

Mocha also worked with McCown when he'd do his other job as the county's
Drug Abuse Resistance Education instructor.

These days, Mocha is getting lots of attention as full-time pet, McCown said.

"She's like one of the family," he said.

McCown said he still does training workouts with her because it's fun for her.

"That's what the whole thing is -- it's a game for them," he said of the
work investigative dogs do.