GASTON, N.C. — Gaston County Sheriff’s Office invited the Gaston community to a meet-and-greet with its newest K-9 deputy, Dunkin.
Dunkin, a Red Labrador Retriever, is Gaston County’s newest narcotics detection K-9. Sheriff Chad Hawkins introduced Dunkin to the community on Wednesday morning at the Gastonia Dunkin’ Donuts on N. New Hope Road.
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The four-legged crime fighter was born to a litter in 2023 that was donated to Highland K-9, a Harmony service and police K-9 training facility, according to a press release.
Dunkin is a non-apprehension narcotic K-9, meaning he is trained to track illegal substances and vulnerable missing persons, according to the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say Dunkin will be a valuable member of the county’s Project Lifesaver program, which works to locate individuals with cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and autism.
K-9 Dunkin will spend most of his time working at the Gaston County Detention facility with his handler Deputy William Linkous, according to GCSO, to ensure a secure and drug-free facility. The Gaston Gazette reports that Dunkin has already found fentanyl residue in a cell block.
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