Wayne Sheriff’s office welcomes K-9 deputy

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office recently welcomed its newest staff member, K-9 deputy Vick, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois.

After the departure of their previous K-9, two local companies — Xcess Limited and CRW Incorporated — donated the resources needed by the sheriff to acquire Vick.

“We are excited about Vick joining forces with us. It has been about six months since we last had a K-9,” Sheriff Travis Hutchinson said. “Having a K-9 is valuable. If you look at Wayne County, we are like the hub of a wheel, with all of the state routes passing through. These main arteries have a lot of narcotics stops.”

The sheriff’s office sees value in having a specially trained dog as part of its tactical team. As crime rates increase and the nature of criminal activities becomes more complex, K-9 units prove invaluable. Their sense of smell and ability to detect subtle changes in their environment make them ideal for tracking fugitives, uncovering hidden drugs and even crowd control during public events.

Capt. Chuck Ellis explained how sensitive a dog’s sense of smell is. “Humans can smell a hamburger enough to know that it is a hamburger,” he said. “But a dog can smell the hamburger, the mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato.”

K-9 training typically lasts several months and is tailored to the sheriff’s office’s specific needs. K-9 handlers work closely with the dogs, fostering a bond essential for effective teamwork. The training environment is designed to simulate real-life scenarios a K-9 may encounter on the job, which helps to prepare them for the high-stress situations they will face in the line of duty.

While the dog spends months training before it is chosen, the handler and K-9 attend eight weeks of training before going on their first call together. During that training period, Vick and deputy Shane Williamson, Vick’s handler, got to know each other well.

“It was very in-depth training,” Williamson said. “We did a lot of narcotics detection work. But we also focused on tracking, article searches and apprehension. Right now drug use is bad, so having a K-9 is very useful.”

Williamson, who wasn’t previously a dog owner, now can’t imagine life without his new K-9 partner.

“When he is off duty, he is just like any other dog,” Williamson said. “We go hiking and play fetch. He is with me almost all the time. But when I give him a command, he is all business.”

Dan Starcher is the public communications coordinator for Wayne County.