The newest member of the Whitesboro Independent School District police force has four legs.
Korra, a 2-year-old German shorthaired pointer, earned her badge when the current school year began and now works the district's campuses with her handler, Officer James Ferguson, KTEN reported Friday in its First Responder Fridays series.
Detection work
Ferguson told the station that Korra holds a national certification in narcotics detection and has also been trained to detect firearms.
He has 16 years in law enforcement, but he joined Whitesboro ISD only this year, and Korra is the first K-9 he has handled. Ferguson said the two clicked right away and that she has set a high bar for any dog he works with in the future.
A second job
The dog's other role is less formal. Ferguson said that when students see him with Korra, it gives him instant credibility with them and makes it easier to earn their trust.
Students who spoke to KTEN described her as friendly and said they feel safer with her at school. Ferguson said Korra played a key part this fall when he was trying to support students through a difficult loss, giving them some relief and distraction from their grief.
"She can find drugs when she needs to, but she can also mingle with the kids, play with the kids," Ferguson told the station, calling it amazing to watch her balance the two.
Whitesboro sits on U.S. 82 in northwest Grayson County. KTEN's report did not say how the district paid for the dog or how often she is assigned to each campus.
Sources
KTEN
