Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jun 2003
Source: Delta Democrat Times (MS)
Copyright: 2003 Delta Democrat Times
Contact:  http://www.ddtonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2123
Author: Amy Redwine / Delta Democrat Times

SUCCESS BREEDS FRIENDS

K-9 Team AIDS In Drug Investigations

He thought he would be the laughing stock of Greenville Police Department. 
Instead, he has gained a partner in crime and a friend for life.

And beginning today, Deputy Rick McDaniel's expertise in training animals 
will be put to another test, as he welcomes two new students.

When McDaniel asked for permission to get a K-9 partner a couple of years 
ago, he didn't know his four-legged pal would play a vital role with drug 
investigations.

McDaniel, 36, the K-9/narcotics investigator with the Washington County 
Sheriff's Department who is assigned to the Central Delta Drug Task Force, 
has been hard at it with his partner, Miss Lucy, a black Labrador 
retriever, since Sept. 13, 2001.

McDaniel has been in law enforcement since October 1995.

He rescued Miss Lucy from the Greenville Animal Shelter on May 25, 2001. 
Four months later, they hit the streets together.

"When I first decided to become a K-9 officer, I was working for the 
Greenville Police Department under the direction of former Police Chief Lee 
Adams," McDaniel said in a recent interview.

McDaniel said he asked Adams if he could get a K-9 through the department.

"He told me I had not worked there long enough, and I could not have a 
dog," McDaniel said.

He said he then asked if he found a dog, trained it and got it certified, 
could he use her on the streets.

"Chief Adams sat back in his chair and laughed," McDaniel said. "Then he 
said if I went through the trouble of getting the task done, he would 
support me."

McDaniel then adopted Miss Lucy and began her training.

"I began training her on May 27, 2001, from a tape I had obtained from a 
Web site on my computer," McDaniel said. "At first, I had no idea what I 
had gotten myself into, and I thought I might be the laughing stock of the 
police department."

Every day, McDaniel and Miss Lucy trained. He said he noticed his new 
partner becoming smarter and wiser.

"After a few months went by, Miss Lucy was finding every narcotic me, or 
some of my friends would hide from her," McDaniel said. "I knew she was 
ready for the streets, or at least I hoped she was."

McDaniel contacted the Mississippi State Penitentiary to make an 
appointment for Miss Lucy's certification.

"September 13, 2001, was the day to see if I could train a K-9 and pass all 
of the tests she was about to face," McDaniel said. "We went through all of 
the certification sites and passed with flying colors. I have never been so 
nervous in my life."

McDaniel said as soon as he and Miss Lucy made it back to Greenville, they 
headed straight for Adams' office.

"I threw Miss Lucy's certification papers on his desk, and I was hoping he 
was a man of his word about letting me work Miss Lucy on the streets," 
McDaniel said.

McDaniel said Adams looked at him real mean.

"Then he smiled while saying congratulations and told us to go to work," 
McDaniel said.

To date, Miss Lucy has more than 270 narcotics finds; more than 100 of 
those were felonies.

She has also placed second in the nation at the National Narcotic Detector 
Dog Association Field Trials. She has received Rookie of the Year Award at 
the nationals and also placed first in the first Mississippi Narcotic 
Detector Dog Competition.

"I am very proud of my partner, and there is only one thing I can say about 
her," McDaniel said. "She is not just a K-9 working in the law enforcement 
field; she is my friend."

McDaniel has trained three dogs since September 2001. One, Mattie, works 
with the Greenville Police Department under the direction of officer Tim 
Allen, while the other, Pepper, works with Agent Jimmy Branning with the 
Central Delta Drug Task Force. Allen also assisted in Mattie's training.

Stan Bagley, director of the Central Delta Drug Task Force, said all three 
dogs are valuable to the task force as well as the Special Operations 
Division of the Greenville Police Department.

"We are very fortunate to have all three of these dogs in our area," Bagley 
said. "And for Rick McDaniel to accomplish what he has says a lot of his 
ability to work with animals."

Bagley said everyone in Washington County knows who Miss Lucy is, but the 
other two are just as important.

McDaniel said he is very proud of all of his dogs.

"I know that I may not be the best trainer in the world, but I know I put 
time, money and effort into this program," McDaniel said. "I make it a 
point to see this program works for the better lifestyles for the citizens 
of Washington County."

Both Miss Lucy and Mattie have placed not only in state competitions, but 
also on the national level.

Starting today, McDaniel will add two more dogs to his list by training 
them to work toward their certification. The newest members of the McDaniel 
school are Tiger and McKenzie.
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