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Recognize Sheriff’s Office K9 Team for Extraordinary Efforts to Help Child
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Maye, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Lieutenant, 704-292-2720
ACTION REQUESTED:
Recognize Deputy Brad Belk and K9 Remi.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
In July 2024, Deputy Brad Belk and his K9 partner Remi responded to a report of a child walking alone along Waxhaw Indian Trail Road. Law enforcement learned the child is autistic and non-verbal. Deputy Belk decided to attempt a reverse K9 track starting at the location where the child was found in hopes it would lead back to his home. Belk used a piece of sterile gauze to collect a scent from the child’s forearms and back of his neck. Remi used that scent to successfully track backwards approximately half a mile to find the child’s home. Deputies reunited the child with his family and determined no criminal offenses had occurred. Deputies also provided helpful tips to the family to prevent the incident from happening again.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: