Benton County debuts a triple threat against drugs

BENTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Across the volunteer state the abuse of meth, prescription pills, and other drugs remains a growing problem. Here in West Tennessee, statistics show we have our fair share of the problem.

In an effort to crack down on the drug issues, one county that sees a lot of trafficking and abuse has a few new tools sniffing out trouble.

It is the Pearl Capitol of World, a resort area along the Tennessee River but in quiet rural Benton County there’s a growing problem.

“In years past we’ve been number two in the state with meth and Tennessee has been number one in the country,” Deputy Shaun Gary with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said.

Drugs have infected the Volunteer State over the years and Benton County is no exception.

“We’re just sitting out in the middle of the state,” Benton County Sheriff Kenny Christopher said. “A lot of people are doing their drug trafficking through here.”

Officers said dealers are selling users anything and everything they can get their hands on.

“There’s a lot of marijuana and a lot of meth,” Patrolman Brian Vitt with the Camden Police Department said. “Meth is unreal here. That’s really our biggest problem other than prescription drugs.”

But it is a problem law enforcement in this small community said they are ready to tackle head on with the help of a few new boots, or paws, on the ground.

The county’s new K-9 program includes Deputy Ghost and Deputy Zorro. Then there is Officer Buster with Camden Police. Together they make a triple threat against drugs across their area.

“Most of the guys out here that are selling narcotics, they know when we’re working and I think they’re now going to try and avoid us,” said Deputy Gary.

The trio have only been on the streets for amount a month but already have their noses to the ground.

“When he hits that odor going around a vehicle you’ll see that head come around and you know he’s in it,” Deputy Gary said.

They smell drugs we cannot smell in places we cannot see.

“It’s hidden in headlight covers, in the interior, really anywhere they can think of to hide it,” Sheriff Christopher said.

And their unique sense of smell is opening up new doors to make arrests.

“A lot of times we would know that there might be drugs in a vehicle but we didn’t have what we needed legally to be able to get to them,” Sheriff Christopher said.

A handful of dealers and users have already been taken off the streets and officers said it is only the beginning.

“We thrive on this,” Patrolman Vitt said. “That’s our dream, getting as much drugs as we can off the streets.”

Sheriff Kenny Christopher said they’ve already brought thousands of dollars in fines and seizures since re-starting the K-9 program. Currently the county and city pay for vet and food costs for the dogs.