Dogs have skills that tech can’t match
When facing down the suspect accused of shooting Captain Brantley Worley of McCaysville, Sergeant David Ridings didn’t grab his taser, pepper spray or gun.
He just unleashed Milo.
“Based on what I could see, the gentleman wouldn’t have time to grab a firearm before Milo could get to him,” Ridings said.
In a flash, the Belgian Malinoise crossed the distance and latched onto suspect Timothy Ramsey, subduing him.
“We didn’t want to take any chances,” Ridings said. “That was the best course of action, because we don’t want to have to shoot anybody.”
For his work in capturing Ramsey, Ridings received a certificate of commendation.
K-9 units like Milo can play a vital role in catching suspects, sniffing out drugs, tracking down missing persons and more.
“A dog is such an important and valuable tool,” he said.
The Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office has three K-9 officers, Milo, Novak and Arlo.
Milo and Novak are Belgian Malinoises, imported from Europe. Arlo is a German shepherd donated to the GCSO by a local family.
These dogs are all trained by the GCSO from an early age.
“We get to go through every step of training,” Ridings said.
They are brave, intelligent and loyal animals, he said.
Milo starts whimpering and barking with excitement whenever he hears police sirens turn on.
“This guy’s just whimpering when he knows a traffic stop’s coming up,” Ridings said.
In the past four months, GCSO’s dogs have found a couple kilograms of drugs.
A dog’s amazing sense of smell can do things that technology can’t rival.
Dogs are unmatched at finding drugs. And they can track suspects for miles in ways that even surveillance drones can’t.
Once, Ridings tracked a suspect for eight hours, finally catching him taking a shower in a truck stop.
“No electronic’s going to give us that,” he said.
When it comes to capturing suspects, dogs also give officers an edge.
“We’ve had people surrender immediately when they see the dog,” Ridings said.
On their feet, dogs are both faster and quieter than an officer. Their bite is more decisive than pepper spray or a taser, but less lethal than a bullet.
Even if they weigh less than a person, they are incredibly strong.
“They’re never going to let go,” Ridings said.
The dogs find the act of biting rewarding. If they don’t seize a suspect, officers let them bite a toy instead.
Often, a dog’s instincts can potentially save an officer’s life, Ridings said.
Once while tracking a suspect through a forest, Novak suddenly stopped. Ridings trusted the dog and started looking around. He quickly discovered the suspect was hiding in a tree. If the officers had kept going, the situation could have potentially been deadly.
“These guys save our lives daily,” he said.
Working with a police dog isn’t just a job; it’s a lifestyle. The Gilmer deputies with K-9s each live with their dogs. When the dogs retire from service, they will keep them.
When the dogs get a day off, patrolling without them feels lonely.
“You catch yourself constantly looking back for your dog,” Ridings said.
Whenever law enforcement needs a K-9’s unique skills, a K-9 officer must go, too.
Constant connection with these dogs creates a special bond, Ridings said. Both dog and handler learn to trust each other with their lives.
“These guys are the best partners you can have,” he said. “They will absolutely give their life for you.”