Lapeer district unveils donated K9 ‘Jody Storm’ to assist schools and sheriff’s office

Lapeer Community Schools this evening introduced Jody Storm, a district‑owned K9 donated by a local trainer and to be shared with the Fisher County Sheriff’s Department. Superintendent Landry said the donation and training saved the district tens of thousands of dollars; the handler described the dog’s capabilities and planned uses.

The handler (Speaker 7) said the dog was donated and trained through a nonprofit and that purchasing and training a comparable dog would have cost between $20,000 and $30,000. “She is trained to detect ammunition, black powder, firearms…just munitions, just to keep kids safe,” the handler said, describing the dog as a German shorthaired pointer and a ‘‘passive tracker’’ — meaning the dog is not trained for criminal apprehension or biting.

Board and staff described operational limits and intended uses: the dog will be used for searches, lost‑person tracking and to add a layer of detection/security at events such as school athletic games. The handler said the dog is trained to indicate if a person has a gun on them and that the team tested the dog on magazines and vehicles; the handler emphasized the dog will not be used for attack or bite work. The handler also outlined ongoing training expectations (daily work and at least eight hours of handler training every pay period) and said it will take more time to develop a strong handler‑dog team.

Superintendent Landry thanked those who pursued the donation and the local nonprofit that facilitated it. The district noted that this ownership model includes a shared responsibility and access arrangement with the county sheriff’s office.