Deputy Dutton, K9 Rip teach Lafayette students narcotics detection skills

First graders at Lafayette Lower Elementary got a close look at one of Lafayette County’s newest public-safety tools as Deputy John Dutton brought K9 Rip into the classroom for a narcotics detection and search demonstration.

Rip, a German shorthaired pointer who lives and works with Dutton, ran through the lesson as students watched, then stepped in for one of the easiest parts of the visit: the pets and treats that Dutton said Rip enjoys from children. The visit gave young students a chance to see a sheriff’s office K9 as more than a patrol dog. It showed how the department uses the dogs to find drugs, search areas and support officers in the field.

The demonstration also carried a broader lesson about how the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department is trying to reach children before they are old enough to form lasting impressions about law enforcement. The sheriff’s office has used Rip and other K9 appearances to socialize the dog, teach students what the unit does and build trust around public safety in Lafayette County.

Rip was introduced to the department in March 2023 after extensive training in Alabama, when the sheriff’s office said he could track and detect narcotics. At the time, the county’s K9 unit was less than a year old and also included Luke, another pointer handled by Deputy Dustin Black. Since then, the two dogs have trained a minimum of 16 hours a month, meeting every Wednesday and sometimes working with other agencies.

Sheriff Joey East has pointed to the dogs’ field work as proof that the training matters. East said Rip and Luke had already worked a traffic stop and found drugs and a firearm, underscoring why the department treats school visits as part education and part public-safety outreach.

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office had previously posted about Rip and Dutton making a special visit to Lafayette County School District Upper Elementary, suggesting the appearance at Lafayette Lower Elementary was part of an ongoing effort rather than a one-time stop. For children in Lafayette County, the lesson was direct: the sheriff’s office wants them to know who the K9 handlers are, what the dogs can do and how those skills fit into everyday school and neighborhood safety.