K-9 Georgia Update: Case Moved To Prosecuting Attorney’s Council

By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor

The Dade County District Attorney’s office moved K-9 Georgia’s case over to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia (PACGA). Major Tommy Bradford (Dade County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy) reported that Jessica Rock, an animal crimes resource prosecutor with PACGA, will be deciding whether or not the case will include criminal charges.

Bradford believes this was a good decision by the DA’s office because Rock is a neutral party and an expert in these types of cases. Rock has visited Dade previously to provide training for our law enforcement about animal crimes. (See the June 12, 2024, Sentinel).

The Sentinel also asked for more details about the broken heat alarm. Bradford explained that this particular kennel and alarm came to DCSO from the Trenton Police Department. The alarm worked while the city used it, but the sheriff’s office wasn’t able to get it to work.

Bradford said there wasn’t a plan to get a new heat alarm because the department was preparing to purchase new K-9 vehicles with kennels, heat alarms, and all.

He said the kennel and heat alarm in question had only been in the vehicle for two or three months. Before that, K-9 Georgia had been riding in the back seat as a puppy to get used to being on the job. She was not yet certified.

Even when heat alarms are working, Bradford noted that electronics aren’t foolproof and have been known to fail, like the air conditioning did on July 13.

The sheriff’s office is now requiring handlers to bring their K-9s into the office when working on reports or other potentially time-consuming matters. They’ve also purchased cameras for inside the kennels (similar to baby monitors) that connect to the handlers’ phones.