Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
Clarksville, Tenn. – Just about everyone has heard that dogs are man’s best friend. That statement has more significance to the safety of the people of Montgomery County than many realize. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and their highly trained four-legged K9 Unit works hard to faithfully protect the citizens and their fellow officers.
Friday, August 15 Gary Mathews Motors, 1100 New Ashland City Road, showed their support for the sheriff’s office with the donation of five bullet and stab resistant vests for each of the dogs in the K9 Unit. The unit, made up of Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds, perform search and rescue missions, sniff out dangerous drugs and explosives, track criminals, and assist in traffic stops.
Mark Blick, with Gary Mathews Motors talked about the donation of the vests. “This is fantastic, to know that these vests we are providing can repel knives, bats, and bullets and they all stand in front of their officer who is out here to protect us all. We’re very proud to be a part of it,” said Blick. Gary Mathews and Blick presented Sheriff John Fuson with a $7,000 check to reimburse the MCSO for the cost of the vests purchased for the K9’s.
“It delivers another level of protection for the dogs. We pay a lot of money for them and anything we can do to protect them. We want them to live, we want them to be productive and serve the citizens of Montgomery County. Anything we can do to protect them we owe it to the dog,” said Sergeant Mike Oliver with the Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit.
Sgt. Oliver works with his dog Links, Deputy Chris Bedell has Merlin, Deputy Jacob Kent has Titan, Deputy Kelly Potter has Mallie and Deputy Eric Trout has Fuse.