VALDOSTA – Call it a changing of the guard of sorts, from Moody Air Force Base to the Valdosta Police Department.
“He is an excellent explosives detection dog, but unfortunately he needs just a little more hands on detection that the United State Air Force can’t provide him,” says Moody A.F.B. officials, at Tuesday’s leash ceremony.
VPD is gaining a four-legged soldier, with a wet nose and big grin.
‘Ssmokey’ is an impressive 4-year-old Belgian Malinois.
“We have to use the dogs to make sure that everyone around us is safe, so the bond and the amount of trust we have is indescribable,” says SSgt. Jason Ashmore, Ssmokey’s former handler.
With Ssmokey on watch, SSgt. Ashmore is confident that South Georgia is in a better place.
“He has amazing patrol capabilities. The entire area is going to be a lot safer with Ssmokey,” says SSgt. Ashmore.
Switching jobs, means switching handlers.
The K-9’s new partner is Valdosta officer Jose Cruz.
“They’re more than a pet. They’re more than a tool. They’re family,” says Cruz.
At the ceremony, they replaced Ssmokey’s United States Air Force patch with his new title, Police K-9.
“When I let go of that leash, and gave him over to Officer Cruz, I knew that he was going to go to the right place and he could continue to do what he was born and bred to do,” says SSgt. Ashmore.
Ssmokey was born and bred to serve a life of honor, and now, protect the citizens of Valdosta.
VPD says this is their second bomb dog, and they assist GEMA with the entire Southwest region.
Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress also says GEMA has agreed to provide funding to help maintain Ssmokey.
