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Press release from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and Gainesville Police Department
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On March 8, 2023, Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., Gainesville City Manager Cynthia W. Curry, Gainesville Police Department Chief Lonnie Scott, and members of Sheriff Watson’s Command Staff met with one another in a joint effort to address public safety as it pertains to the use of law enforcement K-9’s within the City of Gainesville.
During their meeting, Sheriff Watson was notified by Chief Scott and City Manager Curry that the Gainesville Police Department will continue operation of their law enforcement K-9 program in a “limited capacity” and with newly established guidelines that will require the approval of the Gainesville Police Department Chief of Police prior to the deployment of a GPD K-9. Based upon the current staffing levels of the Gainesville Police Department K-9 Unit, a formal request was made by Chief Scott and City Manager Curry to Sheriff Watson, asking that the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office assist with providing an ASO K-9 in the event that a GPD K-9 is unavailable. An additional request was made that Sheriff Watson make his Special Operations Staff, specifically the K-9 Unit, available to the Gainesville Police Department for specialized training of their K-9 handlers as well as the K-9 itself.
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Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr. and Gainesville Police Department Chief Lonnie Scott are pleased to announce that they have come to an agreement in partnership and support of their common interest for the safety of the community, as well as the safety of the law enforcement professionals that they serve.
Effective immediately, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office will assist the Gainesville Police Department, as it pertains to the use of law enforcement K-9s, by aiding in any incident that falls within ASO policy and procedures related to the deployment of a K-9 and upon the request of the Gainesville Police Department Chief of Police or his designee.
Sheriff Watson and Chief Scott remain committed to the safety of the citizens, the safety of their law enforcement personnel, and the safety of the communities in which they both serve.
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