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Fleming County Suspends Drug Dog Program

Richmond Times-Dispatch

The drug dog program sponsored by Fleming County Schools and Fleming County Sheriff's Office is finished, according to officials.

Sheriff Scotty Royse said his drug dog handler, Deputy Tyler Rushing, left the department for another job. At that time, the drug dog was retired and there is not currently a plan to train another dog.

"Normally what happens is, when a drug dog handler leaves, the dog is given to the handler, because it's easier than retraining that dog with another handler. The dog we had was already a couple of years old so this was the best situation for all involved," Royse said.

Royse said he met with school officials who decided the best course of action was not to purchase a new dog at the current time.

"With everything going on right now, finances and people leaving, it's just not a good thing for anyone to do right now," he said.

Royse said before he became sheriff eight years ago, if a drug dog was needed, an outside agency was contacted.

"The school had some contracts with other agencies," he said. "When I became sheriff, I partnered up with the school and we purchased a dog and paid for the training."

Royse said it costs about $6,000-$6,500 to purchase a drug dog and about $6,000 to train a handler.

"It's very expensive to train a drug dog and a handler," Royse said. "The handler has to learn a new language to speak to the dog, there are room and board expenses, and you have a deputy off work for six weeks that is also drawing a salary. A lot goes into it. Then, there is the upkeep of the dog that can get fairly expensive."

Royse said he is unsure what will happen once Gary Kinder takes over as sheriff in January.

Fleming County Schools Superintendent Brian Creasman was out of the office and unavailable for comment on Friday (Nov. 14).

The Ledger Independent is online at: http://www.maysville-online.com