K-9 added to FCSO's Youth Services Section and School Resource Deputy Unit

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with the Board of County Commissioners, Flagler School District and the City of Palm Coast, has a new member, a trained K-9 which is capable of detecting explosives.

K-9 Jax has been assigned to Deputy Jason Williams, one of the two school resource deputies at Flagler Palm Coast (FPC) High School. Sheriff Staly felt it was important to have a K-9 presence on school grounds and the special capabilities of K-9 Jax will allow for added security at the schools.

K-9 Jax was previously assigned to Commander Jon Welker in the FCSO K-9 Unit. Welker was recently promoted to watch commander which allowed K-9 Jax to be reassigned.

K-9 Jax had been donated to FCSO by Caesar DePaço, who is also the Consul of Portugal to the State of Florida.

“The School Resource Deputies provide our students and our schools with a safe and secure learning environment,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “The FPC Bulldog Patrol had suggested having a K-9 visit the school occasionally. Instead, they now have a full-time K-9. Adding K-9 Jax to the team will only enhance our ability to keep our schools safe. We are excited for this new team and hope that besides adding protection, he will also add happiness to everyone he encounters.”

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K-9 Jax is a single-purpose K-9 that is not aggressive and is being provided to the school district at no additional cost. K-9 Jax will report to FPC with Deputy Williams daily.

K-9 Jax will also be available for any calls for service that may involve explosives or bomb threats at other county schools and in the community.  This also marks the first-time in Agency history that an African-American Deputy is part of the FCSO K-9 team.

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Cox Media Group