PODCAST: During this episode of the WGNS Action Line, host Scott Walker talks with Captain James Davis and Sergeant David Ashburn from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. Today, they pull back the curtain on the department's highly specialized K9 unit. The conversation delves deeply into the daily realities of modern policing, highlighting the recent addition of new dogs - including a USPCA-certified K9 named Crash - bringing the unit's total fleet to around 11 dogs. Sergeant Ashburn provides a fascinating look into how dual-purpose and single-purpose dogs are trained to detect illegal narcotics, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. He uses a unique "pizza analogy" to explain how K9s isolate specific scent ingredients rather than smelling a combined odor, learning to alert handlers in exchange for a simple toy reward. The guests also discuss the shifting landscape of local law enforcement, noting the heavy surge in mental health-related calls and the department's evolving use of technology, such as drones and license plate readers, to keep Rutherford County safe.
As the episode moves into the second section of the show, the conversation turns toward the financial and logistical realities of equipping the force, specifically the staggering $14,000 price tag for a single police dog. The guests explain that these K9s are primarily sourced from California vendors who import them from Europe, where dog training is treated as a highly competitive sport, ensuring the animals have the premier bloodlines required for demanding law enforcement work. The discussion also touches on funding solutions, such as a recent grant from the local opioid board in Rutherford County, TN that facilitated a new K9 purchase to combat the ongoing drug epidemic. Before heading into the final commercial break, Walker notes the influx of community text messages, promising to address standout questions sent in by engaged listeners to the station. Hear the full podcast by clicking the play button above this description, or right click to save the show to your computer or phone or other device and listen later.
- SEE ONE OF THE RECENT EXAMPLES OF THE K9 UNIT WORKING TO SAVE LIVES HERE.
