K-9 program returns to Carter County Sheriff’s Office
Published 10:55 am Wednesday, October 26, 2016
The Carter County Sheriff’s office will see a return of their K-9 program after an officer and his canine companion recently passed through certification. Pictured, from left, is Richard Norris, Sheriff Dexter Lunceford, Officer Robert Hughes, K-9 Zeke, Sam LaPorte and Drew LaPorte.
A new officer at the Carter County Sheriff’s Office is ready and able to take a bite out of crime.
During his campaign for office in 2014, Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford touted the need for the department to maintain a K-9 program. When Lunceford took office in September of 2014, the department had one K-9 named Diesel, who worked with his partner Deputy Dave Ryan. However, Diesel was forced to retire in October of that year after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer and passed away just a few months later.
Since that time Lunceford has sought a way to bring the program back to the Sheriff’s Office, and the department now has a new K-9 officer.
On Sept. 23, CCSO Deputy Robert Hughes and his new partner K-9 Zeke graduated from the K-9 Certification School in Ohio.
“This was made possible by LaPorte-Norris Law Firm who donated 100 percent of the purchase price for the K-9,” Lunceford said. “We are currently in the process of obtaining a second K-9.”
