Lydia Nathan
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) police and a fraternity chapter are working together to expand campus safety.
“Fraternities and sororities can sometimes have that rift with a campus police department, right? And we try to break those bridges down as best we can. And I think that’s another example of us doing that,” said Brett Fuchs, director of public safety for the UTC Police Department.
The black lab will work as a therapy dog and is being trained to locate explosives.
UTC’s police force gained another officer—K-9 Lucky. One student organization is helping raise money to train him.
Lucky is a five-month-old Lab and UTC Police’s newest member.
Lucky’s distant cousin, Sophie, is also on the UTC police force, working as a therapy dog.
“I believe that Sophie and Lucky now… It’s a really good morale booster for everyone on campus,” said Marley Jean Pierre, a senior at UTC in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Lucky will also act as a therapy dog, and he will be trained to detect explosives. However, that training isn’t cheap.
UTC’s Pi Kappa Alpha chapter chose to raise funds for Lucky’s training as part of their fall Philanthropy Week.
Students told Local 3 that the false shooter incident that occurred on campus last fall changed their outlook on campus safety.
“I think it’s important with our growing campus and our growing student body that we continue to put funds toward this,” said Preston Smith, a junior at UTC in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
“I think it really opened our eyes and showed where our resources could be needed in this community and what issues we are currently facing. And like with today’s world, what is the most pressing matters in our community around us, and what we can do to help,” said Matthew Crabbe, a senior at UTC in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Funds from UTC’s annual “Mocs Day of Giving” will also go toward Lucky’s training.
