Special to Iredell Free News

Two new Iredell County Sheriff’s Office canine units have been assigned to local high schools.

Canine “Laker,” a yellow Labrador, will join School Resource Officer Josh Kanupp at Lake Norman High School. Canine “Raider,” a black Labrador, will join School Resource Officer Travis Lewis at North Iredell High School.

Laker and Raider, along with their handlers, are ready to enter into their roles at their designated schools after recently completing a comprehensive training program that included advanced obedience, building searches, tracking, article detection, and detection of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, PCP, LSD, and ecstasy. Both canines will also be trained to detect fentanyl in the near future.

“I want to thank Dr. Jeff James and the Iredell-Statesville School Board for working with us to make these two additional dogs possible,” Sheriff Darren Campbell said. “Laker and Raider will join with canines Tito and Rip to work in our school system.

“By being able to have these dogs travel to our various elementary, middle, and high schools, we can continue to foster a safe environment within our schools.”