Pubdate: Sat, 02 Feb 2008
Source: Herald Standard (PA)
Copyright: 2008 Herald Standard
Contact:  http://www.heraldstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3464
Author: Josh Krysak
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?237 (Drug Dogs)

ARTIS TO PUT SOME BITE IN GREENE COUNTY DRUG TASK FORCE

WAYNESBURG - The Greene County Drug Task Force will  have a new 
member to help battle to eradicate illegal  drugs across the region.

Artis, a 19-month-old Dutch shepherd, has joined the  force and is 
undergoing training in Charleroi with  handler Lt. Craig Miller, a 
police officer in  Cumberland Township.

"We have never had a drug dog in the county as far as I  know," 
District Attorney Marjorie Fox said. "The state  police have access 
to one but it is not here. This will  be the first."

The dog, which cost about $13,000 to purchase and  train, is 
undergoing five weeks of extensive training  with dog trainer and 
Uniontown police Officer Michael  C. Garrow Sr.

According to officials, the dog will be able to detect 
methamphetamines, cocaine, opiates and marijuana and  also will be 
used in rescue operations, prisoner  guarding and suspect apprehension.

"The dog will enhance the safety of the community and  the safety of 
the officers," Fox said.

Waynesburg University donated $5,000 for the purchase,  and 
additional money was secured through state Rep. H.  William DeWeese, 
D-Waynesburg; state Sen. J. Barry  Stout, D-Bentleyville; Cumberland 
Township; and an  anonymous donation.

"The dog will provide a safer environment for our  students to learn 
and our faculty and staff to live,"  Roy Barnhart, senior vice 
president of finance and  administration at Waynesburg University 
stated in a  press release.

"The dog will be available for the criminal justice  administration 
program and will provide students with  one more tool to advance in 
their field of interest."

According to a press release from the university, dogs  are 
invaluable tools in drug detection and evidence  retrieval because 
they have 25 times more smell  receptors than humans.

Artis also will be used by Miller to educate children  at area schools.

Garrow, who has worked training dogs for more than  three decades, is 
a K-9 officer in Uniontown, where he  has partnered with his own 
Dutch shepherd, Sheiko, for  eight years.

He said Artis is among four dogs, including his own new  dog, Axel, 
that he is currently training to be K-9  officers.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom