Thanks to a $36,000 school safety scholarship from the Global K9 Protection Group, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will be able to add a four-legged asset to its arsenal to assist deputies with detecting and locating firearms and explosives.
Monroe County Sheriff Tom Boatwright was presented the Larry Amerson School Safety Scholarship recently during the Alabama Sheriffs Association’s (ASA’s) summer conference. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office will use the scholarship to purchase a dog specifically trained in the detection of firearms and explosives and to provide comprehensive handler training and a K9 housing facility.
“This highly-trained K9 will play a crucial role in enhancing safety measures within our local schools and supporting law enforcement in investigations involving firearms,” said Boatwright. “This initiative marks a significant step towards bolstering security efforts and ensuring the well-being of our community.”
Boatwright also made a commitment to share the benefits of the K9 resource to neighboring agencies, emphasizing collaboration and community safety across the region, including Escambia County.
Larry Amerson, who died in 2020 of cancer, was in law enforcement for 45 years with 20 of them as Sheriff of Calhoun County. While he was sheriff, Amerson was able to start the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program and the 911 system in Calhoun County. The scholarship program was named after him due to his accomplishments as sheriff.
