Sheriff’s K-9 Unit Returns To Active Duty

May 30, 2009

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The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department K-9 units are officially back on the street after a month-long absence.

Sheriff David Morgan announced Friday morning that the unit was reinstated following actions taken to correct problems identified In Department of Justice probe into the use of the dogs.

In late April, Morgan pulled his department’s K-9 units off the streets following findings released in a that DOJ investigation.

“The problem was not so much with the K-9 officers,” Morgan told NorthEscambia.com. “It was as much or more with the administration at the time not following up on bites and other paperwork.”

Sometimes, Morgan said the DOJ investigation found, the previous administration would treat it “like it was just a dog bite, a part of the apprehension. The documentation was not done as it should be.”

The  K-9 stand down included the use of dogs for both suspect apprehension and drug searches. But that did not mean Escambia County has been totally without the assistance of  K-9 officers. The City of Pensacola offered the assistance of their  K-9 officers when needed. In North Escambia, deputies could still request the assistance of the K-9 unit from Century Correctional Institute.

The DOJ investigation into the sheriff’s department, which the DOJ announced three days after Morgan was sworn into office, stemmed from allegations of excessive force during the administration of former Sheriff Ron McNesby.

Pictured above: The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit poses Friday morning after Sheriff David Morgan announced that the unit had be reinstated. Submitted photo by Rebecca Evans for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Sheriff’s K-9 Unit Returns To Active Duty”

  1. BGA on June 1st, 2009 8:36 am

    Welcome back drug dogs !!!!!!! CENTURY needs all of these DOGS at one time LOL ……..you guys done a jam up job last week ya’ll freaked everyone out in CENTURY drug busting )))))))))))))) keep it up maybe one day they will pack up and move on…….

  2. escambiacitizen on May 31st, 2009 2:41 pm

    Welcome back!!!! Good job guys and gals

  3. Patrol Deputy on May 30th, 2009 11:19 pm

    AMEN, We have been needing you guys back on the street, Welcome back.

  4. me on May 30th, 2009 10:43 am

    WELCOME BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. guest on May 30th, 2009 7:15 am

    AMEN

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News