The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is receiving praise for those who protect and serve, on four legs.
Deputy Josh Newsome tells us that his K9, a four-year-old Belgian Malinois named Basco, is making an impact on fighting crime in Richland County.
“Last year, Basco got 26 captures. Which is a higher number than usual. That’s 26 people that would have gotten away without Basco.”
Newsome tells us that Basco has also helped in countless drug cases.
“These are things that your average street cop can’t do.”
Basco is one of 16 dogs that make up the RCSD K9 Unit. Each K9 is trained to help locate illegal drugs, apprehend fleeing felons, detect explosive devices, and find lost or missing persons.
But fighting crime is not the only way Basco is making in impact in the community. He is regular face at elementary schools throughout Richland County.
“Just the other week we saw two classes of four and five-year-olds,” Newsome said. “Whenever we left there, about 2 weeks later I got in the mail a stack of pictures from every kid in the class of drawings of Basco.”
These children already understand what Newsome says is the biggest misconception about police dogs.
“These dogs aren’t always there just to search for drugs or to search for people hiding in the woods,” said Newsome. “They bring joy to lots of people and continue to make the community a safer place.”
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