Pubdate: Wed, 26 Sep 2007
Source: Rockport Pilot (TX)
Copyright: 2007 The Rockport Pilot
Contact:  http://www.rockportpilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3064
Author: Norma Martinez, Managing Editor

NEWEST DEPUTY HAS FOUR LEGS, NO UNIFORM

The Aransas County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) has a new  deputy on staff,
but he won't be recognized by a  uniform or a badge. In addition, the
latest staff  member's hiring was made possible by the generosity of
two local residents who are committed to the community.

Deputy Flaco, a two-year-old Labrador, was purchased,  and
Investigator Lou Lourcey was sent to Somerset to  train with him. The
two are now ready to hit the  streets and schools in Aransas County in
an effort to  abate the drug problem in the community.

Chris and Karra Crowley, who moved to Aransas County  from California
in 2005, believed having a canine on  staff would benefit the ACSO.
Their belief and  commitment was manifested by their $12,000 donation
to  the ACSO mounted posse. The funds were used to purchase  the dog,
as well as to convert a Ford F150 to carry the  canine. Funds also
will be used for food and veterinary  care for Flaco.

Sheriff Mark Gilliam explained the ACSO had just  completed the 2008
budget process when the Crowleys  approached the department about a
canine unit. The  sheriff said he did not want to ask the
commissioners  court for more funds, and that is when the Crowleys
stepped up and offered the donation.

C. Crowley said at first they talked about having a  patrol/attack
dog, but the ACSO was concerned about the  liability. Crowley had no
problem with the change to  obtaining a drug dog instead.

The sheriff pointed out patrol dogs are great, but with  the large
number of burglaries and forgeries directly  linked to drugs, they
believed acquiring a drug dog  would be a better option.

He also hopes this will help curb the drug problem in  the schools by
coordinating with the Aransas County  Independent School District
officers to conduct random  searches. With that in mind, ACSO
investigators opted  for the labrador, which is a more friendly,
playful  dog, rather than using the more common German shepherd.

The sheriff also said when seeking an investigator to  take charge of
the canine, he spoke to Lourcey first  and asked if he would take the
position. He explained  the job doesn't end after an eight-hour shift
as the  canine officer has to take the dog home with him and  care for
him.

Lourcey readily agreed and is enjoying the task  immensely. The
investigator, who has four grown  children, said it is almost like
having a child in the  house again. Even his wife, who was skeptical
at first,  has taken to Flaco.

Gilliam and Lourcey said they are ready to put Flaco to  work not only
during the execution of warrants, but for  traffic stops, searches
through local school campuses,  and at the county's new weigh station.

The care and maintenance of the new deputy is covered  for the year
due to the Crowleys and another $500  donation. The sheriff hopes
through Flaco's work, drug  seizures will occur which will net funding
to continue  paying for his upkeep, which in turn will help the ACSO
put a dent in the local drug trade. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake