Sheriff asks school board to fund weapon‑detection K‑9 partnership with $25,000 startup

Sheriff Warren told the Gloucester County School Board he would like the division to partner with the sheriff's office on a weapon‑detection K‑9 program and requested a one‑time startup payment of $25,000 to purchase a fully trained dog and necessary equipment. "If approved, we would ask Gloucester County Public Schools to commit to a one‑time startup cost of $25,000 which would cover the purchase of a fully trained dog and the equipment needed to outfit one of our existing patrol vehicles," he said.

Warren described the proposed dog as non‑aggressive, not trained for handler protection, and cross‑trained for therapy work so it could assist with student crises as well as security sweeps at schools and after‑school events. He said the sheriff's office would assume ongoing care, training and maintenance costs and would certify the handler after training by Master Deputy Phil Lutz.

Board members asked practical and policy questions: whether the existing school security equipment grant (SSO) could fund the purchase, whether the dog would be assigned to a single school or rotate, and whether existing SROs would be handlers. School staff and Mr. Hartley said school security equipment grants are typically awarded at the building level and amounts vary by school; they noted that a canine purchased under this plan would be an asset of the sheriff's office rather than the school division. The sheriff said the dog would be assigned to a handler at one school but teams would rotate and that priority for handlers would be SROs who volunteer and complete certification.

Board members also asked about other jurisdictions' experience. Warren said the model would be unique in the immediate area; he contrasted the sheriff's office proposal with civilian vendor programs on the Peninsula that contract handlers who are not sworn officers and thus require police response when contraband is found. One board member noted Hampton Public Schools uses a narcotics dog, though not a firearms detection canine.

No funding decision for the canine was taken separately at the meeting; the sheriff's proposal was presented as part of the overall budget discussion and staff said any purchase would need to be coordinated with grant rules, ownership arrangements and the county.