Page County sheriff outlines two proposals for opioid funds: K-9 unit and jail body scanner

Sheriff Charles McCullough and Chief Deputy Aaron Riddle told the Page County Board that opioid-settlement funds could pay for a new K-9 narcotics unit and that the sheriff’s office is also evaluating a jail body scanner.

Riddle said the sheriff’s office has not had a K-9 since 2020 and wants to reintroduce a single-purpose narcotics dog to assist with drug interdictions, reduce related property crime and support community engagement. He estimated the purchase and training cost of a K-9 at roughly $8,000 to $13,000 for the dog and initial training, with full deployment costs — including lodging and longer training or dual-purpose bite training — ranging from about $14,000 to $21,000. Riddle said the department expects to use its own budget for vehicle outfitting (including cages) if opioid…