Rutherford Weekly

"RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S FAVORITE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER" We need help! Looking for salespeople immediately! Are you energetic & self motivated? Experience not necessary! Come join our growing company today! Our 20th Year • Issue No. 37 • September 13, 2012 • 828-248-1408 RUTHERFORDWEEKLY.COM Isothermal Gets A K-9... He Can Detect Drugs & Firearms! VISIT Rutherford VISIT Rutherford Count County Politics.com Politics.com "Know the candidates..." Sheriff Deputy, Corporal Andy Millard with his K-9 friend, "Mackey". "Mackey" constantly is in training for sniffi ng out drugs and fi rearms. By: M.A. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfordweekly.com He has been in Law Enforcement for 10 years; six of those years have been w th the Rutherfford County Sherif s of ce. His name is Corporal And Millard. He was the fi rst sheriff to be stationed full time at Isothermal Com- been with the Rutheri Millard. He was the fi rst sheriff to be stationed full time at Isothermal Com- munity College. Corporal Millard felt that there was a defi nite need as well as He has been in Law Enforcement for 10 years; six of those years have ord County Sheriff's offifi ce. His name is Corporal Andyy munity College. Corporal Millard felt that there was a defi nite need as well as great benefi ts if he could get a Police K-9. Due to the fact that the economy great benefi ts if he could get a Police K-9. Due to the fact that the economy was going through tough times, he didn't know if it would be possible, police K-9's are very expensive. How ver,, he approached the Sheri s Of ce and the College of cial with his idea. With what was happening more and more in the nation on with his idea. With what was happening more and more in the nation on school campuses, he felt the best crime deterrent, and a big asset to law he approached the Sherifff's Offifi ce and the College offifi cialss school campuses, he felt the best crime deterrent, and a big asset to law enforcement would be a specially trained Police K-9. It was also a great pro- enforcement would be a specially trained Police K-9. It was also a great pro- active feature for the school campus. Against big odds, Deputy Millard kept pursuing his idea. He spoke with his boss, Rutherford County Sheriff Chris Francis. The Sheriff thought it was a very good idea and backed his Deputy all the wayl a l the way. Finally, the time had come for Corporal Andy Millard to write a formal proposal. He said he had never written a proposal of this nature before, but Chicken Pie Supper Bluegrass/Gospel Singing Sept. 15, 3-8pm at Big Springs Baptist Church Between Polkville & Hollis Dine-In or Carry out Donations Only 704-473-2034 Info: Vern (All donations will help Jackie Brown with a Double Lung Transplant) The Griggs Timber Ridge The Gospel Hymn Boys "The Breath of Life" Job 12:10 ® Call: (828) 382-0027 yournorthland.com speeds approximate. Actual speeds may vary. Northland manages network bandwidth. Internet usage is limited to 2.5 GB. A $25 overage fee ap- plies if the account exceeds 2.5 GB of usage per month. Unlimited Home Phone pricing limited to direct-dialed domestic calls. Activation fee due on activation. Installation not included. Offer valid for new customers or existing customers adding a service. May require credit check, depos- it and/or payment by credit card. Rates exclusive of fees, taxes and, if necessary, equipment rental. 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Search and seizure rights were very limited without a court order or probable cause. Yet, the Supreme Court ruled that a door. A "sniff" by a specially trained K-9 was not only legal, but the answer to a safer and more secure environment. forth the answer to the question: "How better to address the problem within the campus and community?" The current ways to deter and to locate il- legal drugs and filegal drugs and fi rea ms, he felt, were ve y limited. He also had to address the fourth amendment rights. Search and seizure rights were very limited without a court order or probable cause. Yet, the Supreme Court ruled that a K-9 sniff was not a search, but led to "probable cause". That opened a new to a safer and more secure environment. Corporal Andy Millard's proposal was to justify the acquisition of a K-9 esource for the Sherifff's Offif ce. He f felt it was pro-active and would give the college a g eat ad van age. It would also make it a safer place for both student and faculty. vantage. It would also make it a safer place for both student and facultyt His efforts and continued perseverance fi nally paid off. He was somewhat elt it was pro-active and would give the college a grreat ad-- His efforts and continued perseverance fi nally paid off. He was somewhat surprised, but very pleased that it fi nally happened. After eight months, the joint effort by the Sheriff 's Offi ce and Isothermal Community College, surprised, but very pleased that it fi nally happened. After eight months, the joint effort by the Sheriff 's Offi ce and Isothermal Community College, Corporal Andy Millard's proposal was to justify the acquisition of a K-9 police dog for use at the College and another K-9 rl po ice dog for use at the College and another K-9 resource for the Sheri O fi ce. He K-9 sniff was not a search, but led to "probable cause". That opened a new door. A "sniff" by a specially trained K-9 was not only legal, but the answer was going through tough times, he didn't know if it would be possible, police K-9's are very expensive. Howevere active feature for the school campus. Against big odds, Deputy Millard kept pursuing his idea. He spoke with his boss, Rutherford County Sheriff Chris Francis. The Sheriff thought it was a very good idea and backed his Deputy "Mackey", a full blood Labrador Retriever became part of Corporal Andy "Mackey", a full blood Labrador Retriever became part of Corporal Andy Millard's life. This self-described "idea man" had seen his efforts pay off. "Mackey" who was born in Washington State and was picked from the Tar Heel K-9 pool of potential police dogs, was now "on campus". Heel K-9 pool of potential police dogs, was now "on campus". As it turned out, Isothermal became the fi rst community college in North Millard's life. This self-described "idea man" had seen his efforts pay off. "Mackey" who was born in Washington State and was picked from the Tar As it turned out, Isothermal became the fi rst community college in North Carolina to have a K-9. Corporal Andy Millard says: "We've made a lot of advances since we got "Mackey". He lives and trains with Millard 24/7. He out both drugs and fi rearms. Y You can see "Mackey" be- ing led to cars parked on the campus and also being allowed to check out backpacks. So, be forewarned, this specially trained K-9 is checking out backpacks. So, be forewarned, this specially trained K-9 is checking out everyone and everything on campus at Isothermal Community College. Since "Mackey" has arrived, been trained, lives with, and has bonded everyone and everything on campus at Isothermal Community College. Since "Mackey" has arrived, been trained, lives with, and has bonded with his friend, Andy Millard, life has changed for the Deputy and his fam- ily. He is ecstatic that he has a K-9, but will readily admit that: "It takes a remendous amount of work." He brags about "Mackey" saying: "He's verry with his friend, Andy Millard, life has changed for the Deputy and his fam- ily. He is ecstatic that he has a K-9, but will readily admit that: "It takes a tr t emendous amount of work." He brags about "Mackey" saying: "He's ve good at what he does! As I said before, he's pro-active, not reactive". The mission is threefold. "Mackey" becomes a detriment on any campus illegal activity, used for random searches in Rutherford County Schools, and a activity, used for random searches in Rutherford County Schools, and a tremendous benefi t for the county when needed. Corporal Millard credits College for making it all possible. He can't thank them enough. He also will tell you that: "It's such a big win for the people of Rutherford County. I be- lieve in it and am committed to making it work." tell you that: "It's such a big win for the people of Rutherford County. I be- lieve in it and am committed to making it work." tremendous benefi t for the county when needed. Corporal Millard credits the open mindedness of both Sheriff Francis and the President Dr. Myra the open mindedness of both Sheriff Francis and the President Dr. Myra Johnson and Vice-President Mr. Stephen Matheny of Isothermal Community Carolina to have a K-9. Corporal Andy Millard says: "We've made a lot of advances since we got "Mackey". He lives and trains with Millard 24/7. He is trained to snif is trained to snifff out both drugs and fi earms. ou can see "Mackey" be- ing led to cars parked on the campus and also being allowed to check out good at what he does! As I said before, he's pro-active, not reactive". The mission is threefold. "Mackey" becomes a detriment on any campus illegal Johnson and Vice-President Mr. Stephen Matheny of Isothermal Community College for making it all possible. He can't thank them enough. He also will There e are now three K-9's that are partt of the Sheriff's K-9 unit. The track- ing K-9 is named "Ace" along with handler Mark McCrackin and a narcotics K-9 "Rocky" along with handler Josh Johnson. Now that "Mackey" is here, t. "Mackey" does both narcotics and fi fi re- ing K-9 is named "Ace" along with handler Mark McCrackin and a narcotics K-9 "Rocky" along with handler Josh Johnson. Now that "Mackey" is here, the college and county will benefi the college and county will benefi t. "Mackey" does both narcotics and arms. The program is proving so successful that a fourth K-9 will soon be added to the arsenal of the Sheriff Department, a narcotics K-9 "Kilo" along Th re are now three K-9's that are par of the Sherif s K-9 unit. The track- arms. The program is proving so successful that a fourth K-9 will soon be added to the arsenal of the Sheriff Department, a narcotics K-9 "Kilo" along with handler Ti w th handler Trey Ho per.ey Hoopero beginning. beginning. Upon review, it seems the whole idea just made good sense from the Upon review, it seems the whole idea just made good sense from the ©Community First Media

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