On October 10, 2022, Daisy began duty at Oxford Community Schools. She is a two-year-old chocolate lab from Poland that has undergone extensive ammunition and weapons detection training. Understanding that adding layers of security pertaining to weapons detection would be beneficial in the district’s overall safety protocols, the option was heavily researched during the winter and spring by administration and the district security committee. It was determined that the best opportunity for our district security force was to have a dog of our own that allows for longevity and consistency of programming, as well as focuses on additional training for our lead security officer who is an Oxford Community Schools employee.
Oxford’s lead security officer, retired police lieutenant Jim Rourke, is Daisy’s handler. He has committed to training, handling, and housing Daisy. After Daisy spent several months training in Texas, Jim joined her there for her last two weeks, learning to be her trainer and handler. Daisy’s work includes sniffing lockers, bags and other items in search of guns and ammunition. Although she will primarily work at Oxford High School she has already been used in necessary circumstances in other buildings throughout the district. According to Jim, “Daisy has done a great job thus far and is spot on in her ammunition and weapon detecting.” She is put through various drills every day with the armed security guards present in the district as well as doing random sweeps of the building.
Our community has been very generous with offering to care for Daisy. Bryan Ede, a retired police officer and pilot flew to Texas to transport Daisy and her new partner home from the training, so they did not have to fly commercially. Parker Veterinary is giving her complimentary veterinarian services and Harvest Time Market & Pet Stuff is supplying her food free of charge for the length of the Daisy’s service to Oxford Schools.
