SC State holds press conference to introduce gun-sniffing dog
ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina State University introduced a gun-sniffing dog as the newest member of their campus police team.
This is one of many steps the university has taken in the last year to reduce crime on campus.
Priss, a one-year-old female Labrador Retriever is now part of the force. She is trained to detect guns and ammunition.
”She’s not a threat to anyone, but she should be a threat to those criminals who are trying to come on campus with weapons,” said Dr.Gerald Smalls, SC States president of finance and operations/chief financial officer.
Lt. Lavar Johnson, a S.C. State police officer went to Alabama for four weeks of training in February with Priss as her handler.
”We were looking into going into a K-9 unit. I inquired about it and I asked about it. I have dogs of my own and I’m a dog lover so I didn’t mind doing it,” said Johnson.
SC State officials say that the cost of adding Priss to the police force is estimated around $40,000.
WIS asked Lt. Johnson how effective these dogs are.
He said at the end of training, Priss had a perfect score at detecting guns and ammunition.
”She can sniff out ammo, firearms, SP2 which is a minor powder explosive but those are the two main things that was her actual training. It’s very exciting to see a dog pick up something from quite a distance to a point where it’s pinpointed to a narrow point to where she can just pick it up. It’s just amazing to watch her do it,” said Johnson.
This is the latest step university officials have taken to reduce crime on campus.
Just in the last year, the university has added 700 surveillance cameras, improved lighting and added enhanced security checkpoints, requiring each visitor to show an ID.
“Safety is a ultimate concern for the university. We think this dog will bring a whole different technology of safety for us. Being able to sniff out weapons, is just impeccable as a great tool for us,” Smalls said.
In the most recent report available, South Carolina State reported four illegal weapons were found in 2022 resulting in arrests.
Eleven weapons were found resulting in disciplinary referrals. University officials said that the dog will go in to action immediately.
Priss will do random checks around the campus and will also work all major events including football games on campus.
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