Sheriff Tim Cameron
announces a new member to the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office family: a
15-month-old Dutch Shepherd, Brix, which has been assigned to work with Deputy
First Class Lacey Johnson. Brix was
imported from Slovakia.
Johnson and Brix are
in a 16-week basic K-9 handler course that started in February. After the
completion of the course, Johnson and Brix will become certified in Patrol and
Narcotics Detection.
“The
K-9 Unit is an integral part of the agency, helping patrol deputies on the
streets: detecting explosives and narcotics, searching for missing persons and
apprehending fleeing criminals,” said Sheriff Cameron. “The teams are a valuable
law enforcement tool that saves lives and helps to improve the overall
efficiency of our agency.”
Johnson has been
employed with the sheriff’s office since 2013 and was previously assigned to the Patrol Division.
“The
decision to become a member of the K-9 unit is not one that should be taken lightly,” said Captain Steve Hall. “It
is a commitment that comes with responsibility, both on and off duty. It has
been a real pleasure to watch Lacey to work so diligently and reach her goal of becoming a K-9
handler.”
With
the new team in place, the sheriff’s office now fields five K-9 teams who train
weekly to maintain their craft. The K-9 Unit is
led by International Police Work Dog Association (I.P.W.D.A) Master
Trainer Sgt. Todd Fleenor. The K-9 teams are certified in Patrol and Narcotics
Detection and are used to conduct building searches, to assist with evidence
recovery, to track suspects, to detect narcotics and to apprehend violent
offenders. The unit also has two single-purpose canines trained in explosive
detection.
All
teams are required to certify annually through
I.P.W.D.A.
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| SMCSO's newest family member, Brix |
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| Deputy First Class Lacey Johnson and Brix |
