When school begins in Hall County on Friday, August 4, the students at Lanier College Career Academy (LCCA) and East Hall High School (EHHS) will have new four-legged classmates roaming the halls with them.
K9 Zena and her handler Deputy Justin Bonds and K9 Zeus and his handler Deputy Chris Alford join the SRO-K9 team of Murph and Deputy Zack Marley, who will begin their fourth year of service at West Hall High School. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and the Hall County School District (HCSD) share the costs associated with the care and training of the K9s that serve in the schools.
“We welcome Zena and Zeus to the Hall County Team, and we appreciate the role they will play in helping to keep students and staff safe,” said HCSD Superintendent Will Schofield.
“For years, these four-legged heroes have brought an undeniable sense of safety and comfort to our schools— whether they are housed in a building with one of our SROs or simply visiting during a search.”
Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch echoed Schofield’s sentiments, saying he’s excited to see additional K9 teams in the schools.
“I’m proud that we’re expanding the SRO-K9 partnership with our schools and adding this extra layer of security for our students and teachers,” said Sheriff Couch. “No doubt, we have one of the best K9 units in the state of Georgia. I watch our handlers work their daily jobs and then spend additional time every month in training. I admire their dedication.”
Ice breakers
While the three K9s assigned to the school district are trained in narcotics detection, their jobs extend beyond sniffing out illegal drugs.
“Having the dogs in the schools really helps to build a better relationship with our deputies,” said Jeremy Prickett, who is the sergeant over the HCSO K9 Unit. “Sometimes a student may be uneasy approaching a deputy in a uniform about a concern, but having the dog there kind of breaks the ice.”
Zena and Zeus arrived at HCSO in June from Southern Coast K9 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, fully trained in narcotics detection. They and Deputies Bonds and Alford have spent the last few weeks training together and getting ready for the 2023-2024 school year.
The HCSO K9 Unit is comprised of 13 teams that serve in various capacities, including search and rescue, explosives detection, and narcotics detection.
