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LOCAL
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018 • Page 8
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COUNTY WIDE
DOG GONE GOOD
DeKalb Sheriff’s Office celebrates its first K9 retirement
BY HORACE HOLLOMAN
horace@dekalbchamp.com
According to some of his
peers, DeKalb County Sheriff’s
Office K9 Deputy Viper is one
of the best but as the adage
goes, “all good things must
come to an end.”
Viper, a Belgian Malinois
who has worked with the
sheriff’s office for more than
eight years, officially retired
June 20.
The 11-year-old drug
sniffing dog was surrounded by
colleagues and friends during
his retirement ceremony at
Mason Mill Recreation Center.
During his career, Viper had
860 deployments, worked 200
tracking assignments, located
eight firearms and assisted in
the confiscation of multiple
pounds of illegal narcotics,
according to DeKalb County
Sheriff Jeffrey Mann.
“He has apprehended
247 suspects without biting.
In addition to the sheriff’s
office, he has worked with
the U.S. marshals, local police
departments, DeKalb County
schools, and the DEA. During
his career, he also was awarded
first place in tracking and patrol
at the 2013 South Georgia K9
Seminar and Certification,”
Mann said.
While Viper lives out his
retirement, he will become the
“family protector” for the family
of his partner, Deputy Sheriff
Michael McRae.
During the retirement
ceremony, McRae said Viper is
“always willing to work and is
an amazing dog.”
“He’s more than a [dog],”
McRae said. “I always tell
everyone I have one daughter
and one son [Viper]. He’s
awesome and he follows me
everywhere. I even take this dog
on vacation with me.”
McRae said he would love to
see Viper stay on the force but
knows it’s time for him to retire.
“He’s been an awesome,
awesome dog,” McRae said.
K9 officers and partners
from local law enforcement
agencies attended the event.
Viper was served a “doggie
donut” as part of his retirement
package.
“Viper is very well trained
and has done very well,” said
Major Roscoe, field division
commander for DKSO. “I’m
fortunate that we’re able to
retire him to the McRae family
and I’m happy he is retiring in
good health.”
Viper will turn 12 in
August. Roscoe said it’s
important Viper enjoys his life
away from chasing criminals.
“We’re lucky that we don’t
have to retire Viper because
of health issues. I suspect that
he will live a long life at home
protecting the McRae family,”
Roscoe said. “It’s time and he’s
paid his dues.”
mBK
Clarkston, partners sponsor
after-dark basketball league
BY CARLA PARKER
carla@dekalbchamp.com
A summer basketball league
has begun in Clarkston.
Clarkston, DeKalb
Police Athletics League and
Clarkston First Baptist Church
formed a partnership to
bring a “Summer After Dark
Basketball League” to the city
Games are held Tuesdays and
Thursdays at Clarkston First
Baptist Church until Aug. 2.
Clarkston City Manager
Keith Barker said in a
statement that the summer
league program allows the
city to check off several boxes
of its civic and community
engagement goals and
objectives.
“The city gets to expand
our partnership with Clarkston
First Baptist Church and to
partner, for the first time, with
[Police Athletic League] PAL,
a national organization that
already has the infrastructure,
experience and abilities to
implement and manage this
program and league,” Barker
said. “The city gets to provide
additional recreational
offerings and lastly, but more
importantly, the city continues
its efforts to prevent youth
violence.”
The league is open to teens
ages 14 to 19. Programs begin
at 9 p.m. with mandatory
“life skills workshops” and
basketball games following
at 10 p.m. There will be
championship rounds to
determine which team will be
awarded the winners’ trophy
DeKalb County Police PAL
Plus program manager and
coordinator Khary Ricketts
said in a statement that during
the workshops, participants
will hear from experts on a
variety of topics, including
anti-gang awareness, drugs
and violence causes and
consequences.
“The opportunities,
information and discussions
that occur in these workshops
are so important, that
attendance and participation
is mandatory,” Ricketts said.
“It’s simple, if they don’t attend,
they don’t play”
Participants will also be
told of local employment
opportunities. Registration is
free, and the league is open to
the public. Participants can
show up on any Tuesday or
Thursday to play in the games
that start after workshops.
To register and for more
information, contact Ricketts
at kkricketts@dekalbcountyga.
gov or call (404) 664-1225; or
Terry Sanders at tsanders@
cityofclarkston.com, or call
(470) 244-5355
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office K9 Deputy Viper retired June 20 at a ceremony at Mason
Mill Recreation Center.
of Health
Provides Back-to-School Services
We are Here for Your Health!
Friendly, affordable health services including:
• Childhood Immunizations (Form 3231)
• Flearing, Vision, Nutrition, and
Dental Screenings (Form 3300)
• Birth Certificates for Children Born in Georgia
• Sports Physicals
Extended Hours for ALL Services at ALL Centers
8:15 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Monday, July 30, through Thursday, August 2
Monday, August 6, through Wednesday, August 8
Normal Business Hours
Monday - Friday, 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Clifton Springs Health Center (404) 244-2200
East DeKalb Health Center (770) 484-2600
North DeKalb Health Center (770) 454-1144
T. 0. Vinson Health Center (404) 294-3762
DEKALB COUNTY
Board of Health
For more information
(404) 294-3700
www.dekalbhealth.net