Humboldt police hire new officer to sniff out drugs

HUMBOLDT, Tenn. —  Humboldt Officer Matt Cox has a new partner who is eager to hit the ground running.

“She’s a firecracker. I think she’s going to be an asset, a very good assert to our department,” Officer Cox said.

Roxy is the new K-9 on the Humboldt Police Department.

“This is probably the first drug dog we’ve had in about 14 years,” Humboldt Police Chief Rob Ellis said. “So we’re excited to have her on board.”

After months of training, the German Shepherd can sniff out illegal drugs, some that humans cannot detect.

“The main drugs she’s trained in is heroin, meth, cocaine and marijuana,” said Cox, the department’s K-9 handler. “That’s what she’s trained to smell, and she knows the smell very well.”

Before Roxy joined the force, Humboldt had to call in other agencies for assistance.

“Gibson County Sheriff’s Department, JPD, Madison County — they’re wonderful about helping, but it always helps to have your own,” Chief Ellis said.

Although the chief said the city does not have a significant drug problem, with Roxy and Matt on duty, he said the flow of drugs should slow down.

“Get drug dealers off the street and lower the crime rate. That’s our ultimate goal,” Chief Ellis said. ” Humboldt’s no exception from any town. Any town’s got people who’s going to buy and sell. And the more buying and selling you have, the more issues you have.”

“It’s proactive policing,” Cox said. “That’s what we’re here for. We’re community-oriented, and we want to be proactive and stop crime before it even starts.”

Roxy and Officer Cox have a few more weeks of training before they start patrolling the streets. The chief said the cost of hiring Roxy was added into the department’s budget. The K-9 unit is expected to get started in mid-October.