Paws on patrol: Dogs are integral part of police work

Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office, Winterville police rely on K-9s like Roni

  • Kristen Moore, a K-9 handler, dog trainer, owner of the Georgia K-9 Athens location and vice president of Central Georgia K-9 Search and Rescue, holds her Belgian Malinois named Carerra at Pittard Park in Winterville this fall. The pair work together in human remains detection and trailing exercises. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Kristen Moore, a K-9 handler, dog trainer, owner of the Georgia K-9 Athens location and vice president of Central Georgia K-9 Search and Rescue, holds her Belgian Malinois named Carerra at Pittard Park in Winterville this fall. The pair work together in human remains detection and trailing exercises. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • Deputy Courtney Corbin (left), K-9 Roni, Sgt. AJ Wiles (center) and Deputy Karshiuania Rucker (right) gather with Oglethorpe County Elementary School students at a Community Helper Day on Sept. 17. Roni drew attention from students who learned about the role of police dogs in keeping their community safe. (Submitted Photo)
    Deputy Courtney Corbin (left), K-9 Roni, Sgt. AJ Wiles (center) and Deputy Karshiuania Rucker (right) gather with Oglethorpe County Elementary School students at a Community Helper Day on Sept. 17. Roni drew attention from students who learned about the role of police dogs in keeping their community safe. (Submitted Photo)
  • Colt Young, Winterville’s chief of police and a former K-9 officer, holds a magazine featuring an article about him and his former K-9 partner, Roni, at the Winterville Police Department this fall. The story highlights their role in a large methamphetamine raid. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Colt Young, Winterville’s chief of police and a former K-9 officer, holds a magazine featuring an article about him and his former K-9 partner, Roni, at the Winterville Police Department this fall. The story highlights their role in a large methamphetamine raid. (Gabrielle Gruszynski/The Oglethorpe Echo)

    For the Oglethorpe County Sheriff’s Office, teamwork on patrol can take many forms. Sometimes, it’s an officer and their four-legged partner. 

    The county’s one active K-9 team is a German shepherd…