New K-9 Officer joins Georgia Southern University Office of Public Safety
A second K-9 officer has joined the Georgia Southern University Police Department. K-9 officer Bear, a highly trained Belgian Malinois, is the first K-9 officer assigned to the University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah and will work alongside Patrol Officer Philip Garza.
Bear, obtained through a partnership with the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, has performed explosive detection work overseas with the Department of Defense for several years. He will continue to train with Garza this month and, upon successful completion of certification classes, will be assigned to provide regular patrols on the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern. There he will perform daily police patrol functions as well as respond to any calls for possible explosive devices or illegal weapons on the Armstrong and Liberty campuses. Bear and Garza will also be available to assist other agencies in the area should they need the services of an explosives detection K-9.
“We are excited to have Bear join our team and to be able to provide an extra measure of security to our Armstrong and Liberty campuses,” said Georgia Southern University Chief of Police Laura McCullough. ”We want to ensure that we have resources available to provide a safe campus environment to all of the Georgia Southern campus locations. I am sure that Bear will quickly become an integral part of the University community and most likely one of the most popular members of our department.”
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
Posted in Press Releases
