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Retired K9

Retired K9

Leadership Franklin Class of 2015 partners with Williamson County Sheriff’s Department to honor K9 unit

 

(Franklin, TN) Leadership Franklin’s class of 2015 will soon graduate from the 9-month program, but not before finalizing a project that impacts the whole community.

Five active members of the 2014-2015 Leadership Franklin class developed a program, “Gunner’s Guardians,” to raise funds for the purchase of body armor vests for the K-9 officers of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department and to raise awareness, support, resources and funds for K-9 veteran’s, including retirement medical and feeding costs.

 

K-9 Gunner, a long-haired German Shepherd, imported to the United States in 2007 formally retired November 14, 2014 from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Department. Gunner was just 13 months old when he joined the force in 2008 at the accompaniment of Corporal Debbie Rogers, who help lay the foundation for the K9 unit in Williamson County.

 

K-9 Gunner was publicly honored by the group along with his handler Corporal Debbie Rogers in a ceremony and a K-9 Demonstration held on March 12, 2015 at the Sheriff’s Office. Group members Chaz Corzine, Kerri Hudson, Corey Napier, Jose Rodriguez and Laura Beth Stubblefield were very pleased to see the citizens of Franklin and Williamson County show up for such an important cause.

 

Group leader Corey Napier, said of the event, “Today was a salute to a true public servant.  The bond between Debbie and K-9 Gunner was something special to witness and their effectiveness in performing their duties was readily acknowledged by law enforcement peers and many from the public in attendance.  K-9 Gunner leaves a big legacy and big paws for his successors to fill.  We are grateful for the community support and for the unique services the K-9 unit provides day in and day out, helping to improve our quality of life in Williamson County.”

 

At the time of this report, all 3 vests have been funded for the K-9 unit and a retirement fund has been started for K-9 Gunner and future K-9 officers.

If you’d like to honor Gunner for his service, or make sure the other dogs in the K-9 unit have the armor they need to work and the funds to provide for their care after retirement, you can be a part of “Gunner’s Guardians.”

Donations can be made to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, 408 Century Court, Franklin, TN 37064, please make sure and label your donation for “Gunner’s Guardians.”

 

 

About Leadership Franklin

Leadership Franklin, a non-profit community leadership organization dedicated to educating, informing and empowering leaders to improve the quality of life in Franklin and Williamson County. http://leadershipfranklin.org