The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office announced that a trained canine is now assigned to every high school in the county where deputies serve as School Resource Officers.
The latest addition, Canine Chief, and his handler, Deputy Lawrence, recently joined West Iredell High School. Chief is certified in narcotics detection and trailing, skills that officials say enhance safety and security within the school environment.
The expansion of the Canine Unit was made possible through a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and Iredell-Statesville Schools. In addition to safety benefits, deputies say the canines help foster positive relationships between students and law enforcement, encouraging communication and trust.
The Sheriff’s Office expressed appreciation to Iredell-Statesville Schools for supporting the program and for their ongoing efforts to maintain safe learning environments.
