Officials in Fleming County are working to resume the county's drug dog program that was suspended in November.
Former Sheriff Scotty Royse told Fleming County Fiscal Court in November the K-9 handler, Deputy Tyler Rushing, had left the department for another job and the best course of action was to retire the K-9 and not purchase a new dog, as it was coming to the end of the year and a new sheriff would be taking office.
"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 in November.
Current Sheriff Gary Kinder said he is looking into options to resume the program as it is something that means a lot to him and the people of Fleming County.
Kinder said he plans to meet with Fleming County School Superintendent Brian Creasman about the program, since the program has always been sponsored by both the sheriff's office and the school district.
"I will meet with (Creasman) and see what we can do without having to make the school system pay for another dog," Kinder said.
According to Kinder, the program began around 2008 or 2009 and he was the first handler in the county.
"I was the first person to have the drug dog in the county," Kinder said. "After I left, (Rushing) took over and the program remained. It's an important program and we need to bring it back."
Kinder said he is unsure what the costs will be to resume the program, but a new dog will have to be purchased and a new handler will have to be trained.
In November, Royse told fiscal court that it cost around $6,500 to purchase a new dog and about $6,000 to train a new handler.
The Ledger Independent is online at: http://www.maysville-online.com
