S.C. State University shows off its new gun-sniffing dog

South Carolina State University shows off a new gun-sniffing dog that's expected to cost up to $30,000.
Published: Feb. 21, 2024 at 4:43 PM EST
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ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina State University is investing between $25,000 to $30,000 in a gun-sniffing dog to reduce crime on campus.

Campus police held a demonstration with the dog on Tuesday and students, faculty and staff saw how the dog was able to sniff out guns.

The university partnered with Global K9 Protection.

Global K9 Protection Group has dogs across the United States, including on the University of South Carolina’s campus.

“I chose them after carefully evaluating the different companies, and with my personal knowledge of what these dogs should be able to do,” said SCSU President Alexander Conyers.

The company could not provide any data about how effective the dogs are at finding guns and could not say how many guns have been found by the dogs on USC’s campus.

University President Alexander Conyers said the focus of these initiatives is safety.

Three students have been arrested following separate gun-related incidents on campus over the last four months.

The dog will perform random sniff checks throughout the university and will be used during regular school days and at campus events.

Conyers assured students that the dog he selected was not aggressive.

“I know for some folks when they think dogs and working dogs, they think German Shepherds and Pit bulls, but these will be non-aggressive type dogs that our students can interact with. This will allow us to ensure those 99.9% to understand we’re doing everything possible to keep them safe,” he said.

The university said they will have a gun-sniffing dog on campus within the next month.

The chief of campus police will receive four weeks of training.