Two deputies from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Marin-Pelaez and Deputy Wade Banks, have successfully completed the rigorous Narcotics Handler Course, one of the toughest training programs in the Southeast.
The four-week course requires handler-K-9 teams to pass both a certification exam and a written test with a minimum score of 90 out of 100. This achievement comes as part of Sheriff Gino Brantley’s effort to expand the RCSO K-9 Unit.
With K-9 teams now stationed at both the North and South Precincts, the department ensures 24-hour coverage, Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard said in a press release. The teams also support the department’s Crime Suppression Teams, enhancing their ability to respond to criminal activity.
K-9 units play a critical role not only in drug detection but also in locating missing persons, such as children and elderly individuals. Sgt. Donald McVean, who oversees the unit, has been key in maintaining the high standards of training and operational readiness for the K-9 teams, the chief said.
The completion of this course underscores the department’s continued commitment to public safety and the professional development of its officers and K-9 partners, the press release says.
