Commissioners Approve Bomb Dog for Sheriff’s Office

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is expanding its K-9 program with a new addition: an explosives detection dog named Attkus.

Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved two agenda items tied to the effort — accepting a $7,500 donation from AKC Reunite to help fund the adoption and training of Attkus, and approving travel for Deputy Jarod Mills to attend certification training with the K-9 in North Carolina this summer.

Chief Deputy Michael Adcock told commissioners that the dog will be trained in explosive detection, patrol duties, and crime scene evidence recovery — adding a new layer of capability to the Sheriff's Office, which has had an active K-9 presence since Sheriff Botie Hillhouse's first term began in 2016.

“This dog is going to be used quite a bit around here,” Adcock said. “It’s going to save time and add a safety factor for the public, giving us the ability to respond quicker.”

Adcock said the department has faced several bomb threats in recent years — including one that shut down the courthouse for most of a day — and currently relies on federal ATF dogs, which may be hours away.

Attkus is already in training at Highland K-9 in Harmony, North Carolina. Deputy Mills will join the training program from May 17 to June 13 to complete handler certification and learn the dog’s specific detection responses.

“I’m looking forward to adding this capability to our existing K-9 program,” said Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. “An explosives detection dog will be a real asset to Henderson County, both in terms of public safety and our ability to respond quickly when threats arise.”