JACKSON POLICE DOG GOES TO WORK SOON

JACKSON -- Jackson will have its first canine unit to take an active role in drug enforcement in the community.

A German shepherd from Czechoslovakia has been in training with both a dog trainer and a police officer since early summer. He will be involved in various programs on drug prevention.

"The dog is a tremendous asset," said Mayor Paul Sander. "It's a very strong deterrent for drug use."

The dog, which starts full time next week, will ride along with a police officer in a four-wheel-drive vehicle donated by the state. The city has also been actively involved, helping to raise funds for the program.

Sander said the dog is able to detect drugs in a car from outside the car. There also may be some coordination with the schools for drug prevention programs, although he said drugs are no more a problem in Jackson than in any other town.

"We would like to think that ours is not a serious problem," Sanders said.

The dog will have a swearing-in ceremony next week, at which time it will receive a badge and told to raise its right paw. Afterwards a brief reception will take place with milk and doggie doughnuts.