K-9’s in high school and how dogs are keeping students safe

NEW HANOVER, NC (WWAY) — Marvin is Ashley High School’s K-9 and is certainly the superstar of the school. 

He is part of the partnership between New Hanover County Schools and the Sheriff’s Office, which has K-9 teams at e

ach of the high schools.

Lieutenant Dean Olinger works closely with the county’s school resources officers.  

“We want to make sure that the students are safe at all times, that faculty, and the staff. So we want to make sure that the K-9’s are in their schools but they’re also doing what their supposed to do as in protecting the schools itself,” said Olinger.  

Resource Officer Macon and Marvin roam the halls; his nose peeled for items not allowed on school property. 

“The main thing their doing is what their trained to do, is look for those narcotics, things that the people are not supposed to have within the schools,” said Olinger.  

Last week, a New Hanover High student was arrested for attempting to bring a gun onto the school’s campus.  

Sheriff’s say 18-year-old Elijah Lesine revealed that he had a gun in his backpack after seeing the school’s K-9 unit.  

Along with keeping the schools safe, the K-9’s create relationships between the students and the school resource officers.  

“The students love it. We’ve had positive feedback from all of the students. They’re extremely approachable, and it builds those bridges too with the students, the staff, the law enforcement,” said Olinger.