Franklin moving toward more police dogs, not officers

Last year, Franklin added two more police dogs to its force, and officials are looking to add even more.

By adding more police dogs, the city is able to beef up its police force for less cost, officials said.

And so far, the police dogs that have been added have helped make multiple arrests.

Since November, Franklin police dog Pepper has been responsible for eight arrests involving possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, according to the Franklin Police Department. Earlier this month, Pepper discovered 2 pounds of marijuana, about $4,000 in cash and a gun during a routine traffic stop.

Pepper is one of two police dogs the department added last fall. The Franklin Police Department currently has a total of three police dogs, Lt. Kerry Atwood said.

Franklin Mayor Joe McGuinness has said he would like the police department to add more police dogs in the future.

The police department is also looking at added ways they can use the dogs they have.

On Feb. 6, Franklin Police Officer Jeffrey Dawe stopped a vehicle, and when the driver appeared nervous, Dawe got Pepper to walk around the outside of the car. Pepper began sniffing around the bumper of the car, and other areas where drugs could be stored or hidden. When Pepper got to the driver’s side door, she signaled to Dawe that she smelled something, according to the report. 

When Dawe searched the car, he found a backpack with about 2 pounds of marijuana, a handgun and $4,060 in cash, according to the report.

Since November, Pepper has only been wrong on four occasions when she indicated drugs were present. Eight other times, police made arrests and confiscated methamphetamine, marijuana, paraphernalia and items used for dealing drugs, according to the Franklin police Department.   

Dawe now has made it a more common practice to get Pepper out and walk her around a vehicle during a traffic stop. And other officers have asked for her to be there when they do traffic stops, Atwood said.

McGuinness would also like to see Dawe and Pepper go to schools, festivals and other events where Pepper can interact with the public, especially with children, McGuinness said.