Grant and Community Efforts Allow Local Sheriffs Department to Keep K9 Unit

KOSCIUSKO, Miss. (WCBI) – Several local law enforcement agencies are adding K9 units to help them fight crime.

For smaller communities, the expense for one of these dogs can be more than they can afford, so they depend on neighboring departments.

For one department, whose K9 unit is depended on by neighboring counties, the expense was almost too great.

For years, the Attala County Sheriff’s Department was one of the only canine units in the area, and at one point they almost lost that.

“We almost made the decision to discontinue our canine program,” said K9 Deputy, Scott Walters.

This was after the county’s K9, Brock passed away suddenly last year.

There wasn’t money in the budget to look for a replacement, until a national organization came the rescue.

“We were approached by Modern Woodman of America, and they wanted to know what they could do,” said Walters. “We were able to understand that they would do matching funds up to a certain amount, but one of the requirement was we have a fundraiser.”

The community came together to put on a fundraiser, paying for a new dog.

“His name is Victor. He is a 22-month old Belgian Malinois,” described Walters.

The services of the unit benefit more than just Attala.

The surrounding counties with small departments help each other by sharing resources, one of those being Winston County.

“We have a good working relationship,” said County Chief Deputy, Keith Alexander. “If they need anything, we back them up, or if they need us we go and help each other.”

Specifically with a K9, many advantages become available to county departments.

“It goes from anything from helping search jails to search schools, keeping our schools safe,” described Walters.

“A lot of drugs in this county, dogs help find those drugs in houses, vehicles, especially vehicles at traffic stops. As I said, elderly people wander off into the woods and get lost,” continued Alexander.

“Tracking, and it’s also a criminal apprehension and handler protector,” added Walters.

The community effort to fundraise for the unit gives this department a sense of pride in the area they serve.

“Something like this when they come together, it really makes you realize that there’s a lot of good in this world,” said Walters.

The fundraiser is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Attala County Coliseum.