Tennessee Highway Patrol Graduates Five K-9 Teams

NASHVILLE--- The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognized five new canine units in a graduation ceremony held on Thursday morning at the agency’s Training Center in Nashville. The graduating class, which was certified in drug detection, consisted of four teams from the THP and one team from the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office.

 

“It takes a special kind of law enforcement officer to partner with a canine,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “They work long hours with the dogs all day and then take them home at night. They become a part of your family.”

 

“We congratulate all of the graduates today, and look forward to them making an impact in their respective agencies,” he added.

 

Led by THP’s canine trainer, David Frost, the 10-week training course focused on teaching the canines to assist their handlers in scent detection of cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin and marijuana. The dogs are taught passive response and indicate they have found drugs by sitting.

 

Currently, the state’s Highway Patrol has 36 certified canine units working throughout Tennessee. With the addition of the four new graduates, there are 24 drug dogs, 11 explosive detector canines, and one tracking Bloodhound.   

 

The graduating handlers and canines were presented with certificates and badges, respectively. The five new teams are as follows:

Trooper Allen Leverette and K-9 Rusty (Dutch Shepherd) - THP District 3, Nashville

Trooper Robert Woody and K-9 Jesse (Dutch Shepherd) – THP District 1, Knoxville

Trooper George Stephens, Jr. and K-9 Zoey (Dutch Shepherd) – THP District 2, Chattanooga

Trooper Jeff Fuller and K-9 Mojo (Malinois) – THP District 4, Memphis

 

Deputy Jarrod Price and Katara (German Shepherd) – McMinn County Sheriff’s Office

 

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