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Isothermal Gets A K-9... He Can Detect Drugs & Firearms!

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Sheriff Deputy, Corporal Andy Millard with his K-9 friend, “Mackey”.

Isothermal Gets A K-9...He Can Detect Drugs & Firearms!

He has been in Law Enforcement for 10 years; six of those years have been with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s office. His name is Corporal Andy Millard. He was the first sheriff to be stationed full time at Isothermal Community College. Corporal Millard felt that there was a definite need as well as great benefits if he could get a Police K-9. Due to the fact that the economy was going through tough times, he didn’t know if it would be possible, police K-9’s are very expensive.

However, he approached the Sheriff’s Office and the College officials with his idea.  With what was happening more and more in the nation on school campuses, he felt the best crime deterrent, and a big asset to law enforcement would be a specially trained Police K-9. It was also a great pro-active feature for the school campus. Against big odds, Deputy Millard kept pursuing his idea. He spoke with his boss, Rutherford County Sheriff Chris Francis. The Sheriff thought it was a very good idea and backed his Deputy all the way. 

Finally, the time had come for Corporal Andy Millard to write a formal proposal. He said he had never written a proposal of this nature before, but he was determined about the possibilities of “making it happen”! He put forth the answer to the question: “How better to address the problem within the campus and community?” The current ways to deter and to locate illegal drugs and firearms, he felt, were very limited. He also had to address the fourth amendment rights. Search and seizure rights were very limited without a court order or probable cause. Yet, the Supreme Court ruled that a K-9 sniff was not a search, but led to “probable cause”. That opened a new door. A “sniff” by a specially trained K-9 was not only legal, but the answer to a safer and more secure environment. 

Corporal Andy Millard’s proposal was to justify the acquisition of a K-9 police dog for use at the College and another K-9 resource for the Sheriff’s Office. He  felt it was pro-active and would give the college a great advantage. It would also make it a safer place for both student and faculty. His efforts and continued perseverance finally paid off. He was somewhat surprised, but very pleased that it finally happened. After eight months, the joint effort by the Sheriff ‘s Office and Isothermal Community College, “Mackey”, a full blood Labrador Retriever became part of Corporal Andy Millard’s life. This self-described “idea man” had seen his efforts pay off. “Mackey” who was born in Washington State and was picked from the Tar Heel K-9 pool of potential police dogs, was now “on campus”.

As it turned out, Isothermal became the first community college in North Carolina to have a K-9. Corporal Andy Millard says: “We’ve made a lot of advances since we got “Mackey”. He lives and trains with Millard 24/7. He is trained to sniff out both drugs and firearms. You can see “Mackey” being led to cars parked on the campus and also being allowed to check out backpacks. So, be forewarned, this specially trained K-9 is checking out everyone and everything on campus at Isothermal Community College.

Since “Mackey” has arrived, been trained, lives with, and has bonded with his friend, Andy Millard, life has changed for the Deputy and his family. He is ecstatic that he has a K-9, but will readily admit that: “It takes a tremendous amount of work.” He brags about “Mackey” saying: “He’s very good at what he does! As I said before, he’s pro-active, not reactive”. The mission is threefold. “Mackey” becomes a detriment on any campus illegal activity, used for random searches in Rutherford County Schools, and a tremendous benefit for the county when needed. Corporal Millard credits the open mindedness of both Sheriff Francis and the President Dr. Myra Johnson and Vice-President Mr. Stephen Matheny of Isothermal Community College for making it all possible. He can’t thank them enough. He also will tell you that: “It’s such a big win for the people of Rutherford County. I believe in it and am committed to making it work.”

There are now three K-9’s that are part of the Sheriff’s K-9 unit. The tracking K-9 is named “Ace” along with handler Mark McCrackin  and a narcotics K-9  “Rocky” along with handler Josh  Johnson. Now that “Mackey” is here, the college and county will benefit. “Mackey” does both narcotics and firearms. The program is proving so successful that a fourth K-9 will soon be added to the arsenal of the Sheriff Department, a narcotics K-9 “Kilo” along with handler Trey Hooper.

Upon review, it seems the whole idea just made good sense from the beginning.


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