Clark County introduces new K-9 officer

The K-9 will be aiding drug enforcement deputies in searches and patrols, according to Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett. HASAN KARIM/STAFF

The K-9 will be aiding drug enforcement deputies in searches and patrols, according to Clark County Sheriff Deb Burchett. HASAN KARIM/STAFF

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office introduced its new K-9 officer on Sunday morning. Gordon, a 4-year-old German shepherd, was donated to the department by former owner Talerie Brown. The dog will be partnered with Deputy Christopher Doolin.

As a new K-9 handler, Doolin will be entering a six-week training program with Gordon at Police Dog Services in Germantown.

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Gordan has been previously trained in obedience, tracking and protection, according to K-9 trainer Steve Dunham. The program in Germantown will focus mainly on Doolin.

Doolin said the most surprising thing about Gordon is the quick bond that they have formed.

“We hit it off really good right from the beginning,” he said.

Gordon will be replacing former K-9 officer Yari, a Belgian Malinois who was retired by the department last September. The K-9 will be aiding drug enforcement deputies in searches and patrols, according to Sheriff Deb Burchett.

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“We want his main focus to be on the drugs in the county and in the city,” she said.

The department hopes to use Gordon in an effort to combat what they described as a heroin epidemic within the county.

“We have heroin overdoses every day of the week, sometimes two or three times in one day,” said Burchett. “Gordon will be in the frontline of that fight.”

Doolin stated that he was excited for this new opportunity and can’t wait to start patrolling with his new K-9 partner.

“Hopefully we can be part of combating the drug epidemic that we seem to have going on,” he said.

The department hopes to get Gordon on the streets by the beginning of summer.

The cost of training for Gordon and Doolin is covered through donations.

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