by Al Summers
News Editor • alsummers@timescourier.com
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Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, Dep. Frank Robbins, and Rico.
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The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department has welcomed a unique deputy to the force. He is armed with a keen sense of smell and teeth for protection. He answers to one name, and is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Rico, a Belgian Malinois from the Netherlands, began work Friday, Sept. 22, and on his first day of work he located a marijuana plant at a residence under surveillance. The dog was purchased by the sheriff’s department with a donation from the Faith, Hope, and Charity Recycle Store.
Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson told the Times-Courier, “The department was approached by Bill DeLoney and Marty Braille of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and they stated they saw a need for a dog. I agreed, but due to budget restraints, I did not have the funds to purchase one. They offered to make the donation at that point.”
Rico is assigned to Dep. Frank Robbins who attended a two-week training and certification process in Fayetteville, N.C.
Nicholson said, “We will use the dog heavily in drug interdiction on our highways, such as Hwy. 515, which has been identified as a major drug corridor.” Due to their superior sense of smell, the dogs are able to successfully inspect a vehicle in a fraction of the time it takes an officer to complete the same procedure.
The sheriff added, “We are very excited about having Rico in the department. I would like to express deep appreciation to Mr. DeLoney and Mr. Braille and the entire board of Faith, Hope, and Charity for their generosity.”
In addition to the drug dog for the sheriff’s department, the Harrison Foundation recently purchased a drug dog for the Gilmer County school system that is assigned to Dep. Pam Almond, who serves as a school resource officer. Trooper’s “home” will be the Crossroads Alternative School.
Gilmer County School Superintendent Dr. Raiford Cantrell told the Times-Courier, “Members of the board of education have had a dog in their plans for well over a year. They approved a $5,000 investment to purchase equipment related to the dog, including ongoing training and upkeep.
“The board and I are very excited about this preventive process of keeping our schools drug free,” he added.
Cantrell said the dog had already visited Ellijay Elementary School, Gilmer Middle School, and Gilmer High School, and has also attended a Gilmer High School football game.
Nicholson said, “The great thing about the partnership between the school system and the sheriff’s department is there was no way the sheriff’s department could budget for a dog to be solely used in the schools. But, through this partnership with the board of education, the Harrison Foundation, and ETC, it will enable us to do so.
Trooper, a blond Labrador Retriever, is being trained by Will Beattie. He has previously worked with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services as an agent and canine handler. He has been training dogs for over 20 years.