KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — The Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office has welcomed a new family member to keep the community safer.
It's 3-year-old K9, Mazie, joining her handler, Deputy Hunter Coleman.
“This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, so being able to grow up and fulfill that dream has been pretty awesome so far,” Deputy Coleman says.
Coleman spent four weeks training with Mazie.
"It was very nerve wrecking at first, it was a lot to learn but I really enjoyed the time up there, I’ve learned a lot,” he adds.
Captain Brad Lawson says it’s an extensive process to pair the dog with the right person like Deputy Coleman.
“We have a selection process, it came from Bullocks K9 they bring in dogs usually, let us know what kind they have, and then we go up there and look at them and see if it fits. This dog actually came from the Chez Republic, sometimes they come with maybe a little bit of training beforehand, but after then it's numerous weeks they train the do up there and then the handler goes up there, ” Lawson says.
Mazie is now the 9th dog in the department and has been specifically trained as a patrol dog.
“Training narcotics, article searches, tracking, apprehension, handler protection,” Lawson adds.
She was purchased by those who donated in the community to the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Foundation says Chairman Benji Jackson.
“That dog is between $15-16,000 dollars, and that's for the purchase of the dog, the care for the dog, the medical treatment for the dog, training of the dog, training of selected deputy that will handle the dog,” Jackson says.
As for Deputy Coleman, he says it’s an exciting addition.
“There's always been something there between me and her it was just a perfect match between me and her, like I said it's just something you can't describe, the hours we spend together it's literally almost 24/7 together, we are constantly together, we have 12-hour shifts were riding in the car together and after that 12-hour shift we go home and she's in the house with me,” Coleman adds.
The department is looking to add three more dogs shortly.