TUMWATER, Wash. — Among the five new drug detection dogs whose handlers graduated from Department of Corrections training this week, three are certified to find fentanyl.
Department of Corrections certified the first fentanyl-trained dogs last year. It's part of a growing effort to address the ongoing opioid crisis in the state's prisons, jails and communities.
"Our population has a much higher rate of substance abuse issues than the general public," said DOC Secretary Cheryl Strange in a prepared statement. "Drugs will always be an issue in prisons, but we are taking every step necessary to reduce the likelihood that they are introduced in the first place."
One of the new drug detection dogs will work for the Department of Corrections. The other four will be employed by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, Okanogan County Sheriff's Office, Airway Heights Police Department and Yakima County Department of Corrections.
The dogs - Harley, Timber, Luka, Raiden and Rozzo - were all donated from human societies and rescues. A few were "last chance."
Hunter Bennett, a corrections deputy out of Okanogan County, is preparing to work side-by-side with 6-year-old K9 Timber. Bennett said it was "surreal" to graduate and that it was an "amazing" training process.
Timber, Bennett said, has prior experience out of Utah and is "great to be around."
In addition to adding K9s, the Department of Corrections has made other efforts to combat drug use and overdoses in facilities. That includes:
- Making sure there is widespread availability of the opioid overdose treatment Narcan
- Increased training for staff on how to prevent and treat overdoses
- Launched a body scanner pilot program to detect contraband
- Created a Fentanyl Task Force to enhance the department's response to the fentanyl crisis
- Expanded treatment and medication for incarcerated people with substance abuse issues
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