Dale WintersSOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. -- The South Pittsburg police department could get a free drug dog and officer training if city leaders approve the deal this week.
Police Chief Dale Winters said his department has been offered a 2-year-old Labrador retriever that has been professionally trained to locate narcotics by American K-9 Detection Services in Anniston, Ala.
"They'll let us have it free of charge," he said.
Lt. Jimmy Jones of the Jackson County, Ala., Sheriff's Department worked out the deal for South Pittsburg.
"This dog, in particular, is kind of rare," Jones said. "[AMK9] is a group that trains dogs for the military and other organizations outside the United States."
The dogs that AMK9 produces are "top-of-the-line dogs," he said.
The dog became available because it didn't pass an AMK9 requirement that it be able to search for drugs continuously for at least 45 minutes.
"Forty-five minutes is a long time for a dog to search," Jones said. "That's a long time for me to search. That's why this dog fell out of their program."
Jones brought the dog to town last week to show off its detection skills for Winters and Commissioner Debbie Hughes.
Even though it was the first time he had ever worked with the dog, Jones said it performed well and quickly detected various drugs in a test vehicle.
"I also put out 20 pounds of dog food and an ounce of marijuana to show that the dog wasn't just indicating on anything else that might have been in the vehicle," he said. "He did what he was supposed to do."
South Pittsburg could get the dog with "no strings attached" as long as the city signs a contract pledging to take care of it properly, Jones said.
At the October meeting of the South Pittsburg City Commission, Jones offered to train for free whichever city officer is chosen to work with the dog.
"I think this dog would be beneficial to any department anywhere for the cost," he said.
Commissioner Ronnie Lancaster asked that the deal be tabled until City Attorney Billy Gouger has a chance to inspect the proposed contract.
"I'd like to see the dog work a little bit myself, too," he said.
Winters said he would set up a time for the board to see the dog in action and examine the contract.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.