Brooksville PD's New K-9 Headed To Training

BROOKSVILLE - Today, a tennis ball commands Koda's full attention.
In a couple of months, Brooksville police hope it will be a kilo of cocaine.
There's still 12 weeks of training ahead for the police department's new drug-sniffing dog. But instructors at the Orange County Sheriff's Office already see promise in the lean, sandy-colored Belgian Malinois.
"They're very impressed with his intensity," said Chief George Turner.
The officer on the other end of the leash is Joseph Nelson, who is "quite happy" with his new post as K-9 handler. He earned a golden pin designating him as such three weeks ago in Orlando.
For Nelson, it's a dream come true. Even before he went to the police academy, Nelson vowed to become a K-9 handler if he made it in law enforcement. He even got a head start by learning the common German commands for a K-9.
"I wanted to do more than average patrol," he said.
The duo has been getting acquainted for three weeks now. Nelson said they have already learned to "read" each other's body language.
During the next 12 to 14 weeks, Koda will be trained to detect drugs hidden in buildings and cars. It's been roughly 15 years since the department had that capability, Turner said.
Koda, who is 2 years old, was donated by a kennel operated by John Gore, a K-9 deputy at the sheriff's office. His training is also free of charge.
Operating a K-9 program will require veterinarian expenses, along with a kennel and a special cage for the cruiser to transport Koda. The latter is on order and should arrive by the beginning of August.
Turner expects to pay for the program through drug forfeiture money.
"I'm going to let drug dealers pay for my drug dog," he said.