Cobb County expands K-9 security following armed student incident
Cobb County adds detection dogs to middle schools
Cobb County school board members voted to approve $1.2 million for five new Vapor Wake detection canines in middle schools following recent weapon incidents.
COBB COUNTY, Ga. - The Cobb County School Board voted to expand its detection dog program to middle schools following multiple safety incidents across the district this year.
Cobb County school safety
What we know:
Vapor Wake K-9s currently patrol every Cobb County high school to boost safety. The district already had eight dogs and added eight more before the current school year started.
The board has now approved spending $1.2 million from the fund balance for five new K-9s and five handlers. Those five dogs will divide their time and travel between middle schools during the day.
Middle school weapons incidents
The backstory:
The expansion comes six weeks into the school year after weapons were discovered on multiple campuses. That includes a loaded firearm with a drum clip at Campbell Middle School.
Parent James Wilson said a student threatened to shoot and kill his son and a classmate. Police later took that student into custody.
K-9 deployment timeline
What we don't know:
Officials have not confirmed the exact date the new K-9s will begin walking middle school hallways. Special Local Option Sales Tax funds will cover the vehicles and necessary equipment.
District leaders plan to start purchasing the dogs, matching them with handlers, and completing training immediately, which could take a couple of months.
Security strategy moving forward
What's next:
District officials describe the expanded K-9 program as an additional layer of security to keep children safe. Ragsdale noted that leaders believe this is the right move to address campus safety concerns.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from FOX5 reporter Denise Dillon, who reported live from Cobb County, as well as Superintendent Chris Ragsdale and parent James Wilson.