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Drug-sniffing K-9 has nose for narcotics

By Jennifer Bruinton

On October 9, 2013

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Hank, the drug-sniffing K-9, off duty.

Meet Hank, the first K-9 dog to ever step paws on campus.

Campus police purchased a K-9 drug dog July 18, 2012 to aid them with finding narcotics

on campus.

Patricia Norris, chief of campus police, said that the department was using the Winston-Salem Police Department's dogs to search the residence halls for drugs.

Norris said that Chancellor Donald J. Reaves recommended that they should purchase their own K-9s.

"I discussed it over with him, and based on that we

acquired our own," she said.

Hank is a 5-year-old Fox Red Labrador Retriever that was purchased in Greensboro.

Campus Police Officer Ulrick McDougald is in charge of Hank. Hank also lives with

McDougald.

"Chief always says that he's not a pet, but he's pretty cool.

It's really hard not to like him; he's my partner," McDougald said.

"[Hank is] Certified in sniffing for cocaine, marijuana,

ecstasy, heroin and meth.

He walks through the buildings and dorms.

"I'll walk him through Foundation [Heights] two floors at a time, and then let him get a breather. I'm very sporadic when I deploy him though, because I

don't want him to get burned out," he said.

Hank also is responsible for sniffing vehicles.

Hank has performed in 10-12 raids inside of residence halls.

According to Campus Police Officer, Henry Gray, Hank is the first certified dog campus police has ever worked with.

Gray said that he's a good dog but young.

"He's very friendly, not the aggressor dog that will chase you like some of those vicious barking attack dogs. Normally when he alerts, trust it, because he recognizes the odor instantly due to his

proper certification."

Capt. Amir Henry said that Chief Norris wanted to find a dog, not to intimidate any students or faculty, but to stop the trafficking of narcotics on campus.

"If there is nowhere to sell the drugs, then that will cut

down the crime factor," Henry said.

Devin Bradford, senior sports management major

from Chicago said that he heard about the dog last year.

"He's ineffective, because he doesn't protect us," he said.

Norris said, "I think in looking at all the possibilities we have the perfect combination because the dog emulates the trainer. If the officer is lazy, the dog will be lazy. Officer Mac is a great officer, and he really knows how to handle his dog."