Senior Lieutenant of Public Safety Eric Barnes said in a statement that DPS is exploring the use of dogs in campus safety enterprises.
“We are not initiating this program to look for drugs,” Barnes wrote in an email. “The primary function of the dogs would be to serve as a visual deterrent to external threats. This program is not about enforcing rules; it’s about safety. This is a tool that aids us in keeping the campus safe.”
Barnes wrote the dogs would be particularly useful during events with large crowds.
“While still in the developmental phase, we have taken initial steps to begin training selected Public Safety officers in dog handling skills and you may observe DPS officers with dogs in the near future as we begin this pilot program,” Barnes wrote. “Historically, we’ve partnered with outside agencies to bring in dogs and found it beneficial. We feel it’s time to add a more advanced layer of protection for the Pepperdine Community.”
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Follow Nate Barton on Twitter: @TheNateBarton
As published in the Oct. 3, 2013 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
