GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The City of Gatlinburg is pleased to announce the addition of two K-9 Officers to the Gatlinburg Police Department. K-9 Officer Dolly and K-9 Officer Gill were introduced at the May 21, 2024 City Commission Meeting.
“These two K-9 officers bring an added layer of expertise to our police force,” said Police Chief Ronnie Barrett. “Their specialized skills are essential for an array of operations, including narcotics and explosives detection to search and rescue missions. Both Dolly and Gill will enhance the Police Department’s ability to protect and serve the Gatlinburg community more effectively.”
The integration of Dolly and Gill into the Gatlinburg Police Department underscores the City’s commitment to leveraging advanced resources for public safety. The presence of K-9 units not only aids in law enforcement activities, but also serves as another avenue for successful community policing.
Dolly, a black Labrador, joined the Department late last year and is handled by Officer Jacob Whaley. Dolly is fully trained and certified with the American Mantrailing Police and Work Dog Association and last fall she completed the K-9 National Course for police tracking, obedience, and narcotics detection.
Dolly’s training allows her to locate illegal narcotics, as well as assisting in search and rescue missions if individuals go missing.
“Since Dolly joined me on patrol, we have had multiple successful deployments with a 96 percent success rate,” Whaley said. “Dolly has also assisted the Sevier County Street Crimes Unit in several investigations.”
Gill, a German shorthaired pointer, is an explosives detection dog and is the first such K-9 unit that the Gatlinburg Police Department has had. Gill joined the Department on May 15 and is handled by Officer Dante Cox.
“Gill is the first bomb-trained K-9 that the City of Gatlinburg has had,” Barrett said. “We believe with serving Pi Beta Phi Elementary, Gatlinburg-Pittman Junior High, and Gatlinburg-Pittman High Schools, along with the Convention Center and the many special events that Gatlinburg has, a bomb-trained dog is something that we will utilize often.
“Gill’s abilities will be crucial for ensuring the safety of large events and crowded areas, providing peace of mind to citizens and visitors alike.”
Gill is trained to detect many explosives, including Semtex, dynamite, TNT, RDX, black powder, smokeless powder, Semtex A+H, PETN, sodium chloride, nitrate, and Pyrodex.
“Adding Dolly and Gill to the Police Department underscores Gatlinburg’s dedication to providing exceptional emergency services to our citizens and visitors,” Gatlinburg City Manager Greg Patterson said. “These K-9 Officers are more than just working police dogs, they are integral members of the Police Department and we are excited to see them in action.”
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