DRUG DETECTION DOG AT WORK IN COUNTY

Oktibbeha County's newest narcotics enforcement officer does not carry a
gun or work undercover, but, in less than a week on a job, has already
proven his effectiveness.

At two years old, this officer does wear a specially-made badge on his
collar to indicate his status in law enforcement.

But despite his age, Chocolate the drug dog will be an effective tool for
local law enforcement agencies in curtailing narcotics trafficking in the
area. A chocolate-brown Labrador retriever owned by Oktibbeha County
Sheriff's Deputy Mike Carrithers, Chocolate was trained as a narcotics
detection dog by Russell Gaines, commander of the Tri-County Narcotics Task
Force, over a five-to six-week period.

"He's trained to detect several types of narcotics, including marijuana,
cocaine and methamphetamine," Carrithers said. "We're also training him to
detect other types of narcotics, as well."

Late last week, Chocolate proved his effectiveness by helping sheriff's
deputies and Starkville police officers find more than 23 pounds of
marijuana and other illegal drugs in multiple weekend busts, Carrithers said.

"When he zeros in on the drugs, he alerts by scratching near the area where
the drugs are hidden," Carrithers said. "We've trained him to associate
the drug scents with a toy so he's able to find them."

Sheriff Dolph Bryan said Chocolate will be especially useful as the
Sheriff's and Police Departments, Tri-County, the Mississippi Bureau of
Narcotics and the Mississippi Department of Corrections continue a
crackdown on drug trafficking that began last week.

"As much as drugs are in this area, we've needed a dog before now. We're
seeing trafficking at epidemic proportions," Bryan said. Drug trafficking
and abuse often leads to the commission of other crimes, said Police Chief
David Lindley.

"From time to time when we see increases in narcotics activity, it affects
all caliber of crimes," Lindley said. "Anything we can do to more
effectively get drugs off the street is beneficial." Bryan agrees.

"The violence we've had in this county over the last year and a half to two
years is directly related to the drug trafficking that goes on," Bryan
said. "I've already overextended the Sheriff's Department as far as the
money I've been allotted for this type of drug enforcement, but we cannot
back down from this. The Board of Supervisors have been fully supportive of
our efforts at this time. "Having a drug will greatly help us," Bryan added.

Businesses and individuals assisted financially in paying for Chocolate's
training as a drug dog, Carrithers said. Those businesses and individuals
include:

* Ford Eye Clinic.
* Alley Kat's Glass
* Langford Law Firm
* Ben Hilbun
* Templeton Oldsmobile
* Village Cycle Center
* C.C. Clark Co.
* McDonald's
* Northland Cable Television
* S&K Door
* Court of Appeals Judge Jim Brantley
* Taylor Construction Co
* Oby's
* Boardtown Women
* Deweese Pawn and Gun
* JennLake Meadows
* Rick's Furniture

"We're grateful to these businesses and individuals for their
assistance," Carrithers said. "This will make a big difference in our
community."