Benoit Motors supports Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office with new K-9 unit members Kai and Brick
Published 6:05 pm Tuesday, December 26, 2023
- (Special to the American Press)
In a heartwarming display of community support, Jason Benoit, owner of Benoit Motors, and his wife, Mandy, joined forces with law enforcement in Beauregard Parish to welcome the newest members of the Beauregard Parish Sheriffs Office K-9 unit.
“Well, it’s is my favorite thing that we do, is to be able to do stuff like this” Jason Benoit said. “When we heard about this, it just struck a nerve… We think the dogs will help way more than a score board, we really feel like the drug problem is ridiculous, and we just want to help the Sheriffs department.”
The occasion took place at the Beauregard Parish Sheriffs Department training center, where Sheriff Mark Herford and officers Trey James and Charles McKinney proudly stood alongside the Benoits for a photograph with the dynamic duo – Kai and Brick.
Kai, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, possesses an impressive dual training as a Narcotic Scent Dog and Police Apprehension specialist. On the other leash is Brick, a 2-year-old Black Lab, specializing in detecting narcotics. Officers Trey James and Charles McKinney have taken up the responsibility of handling these highly trained canines, forming an integral part of the BPSO K-9 unit.
The addition of Kai and Brick to the force is not only a symbol of enhanced capabilities in law enforcement but also a testament to the generosity of Benoit Motors. The dealership’s donation played a crucial role in acquiring the dogs and will continue to support ongoing training for the BPSO officers working with them.
Herford expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the pivotal role the donation played in strengthening the K-9 division. “Narcotics is such a serious issue for us, and to have now two new tools to be able to accomplish, hopefully what we want to…” Sheriff Herford stated.
“So far since I’ve had him, we’ve had five deployments,” explained Officer Trey James, “We’ve retrieved narcotics ranging from cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy… Our mission is just to get out there, conduct the most proactive criminal patrol that we can and remove all narcotics from the street that we can.
The training provided to Kai and Brick has equipped them to detect a range of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, and other potentially lethal substances. This heightened sense of detection is a critical asset in the ongoing battle against drugs in Beauregard Parish. Office Charles McKinney explained, “Everything is tied to narcotics, whether it’s thefts, a break-in, home invasions, any of those things all ties and goes back to narcotics. When you have narcotic detector dogs that are out on the street and they’re patrol certified then we can respond to those types of calls and go in and eliminate that threat.”
Of particular note is Kai’s exceptional abilities, which garnered interest from international quarters. Australian Special Forces had expressed an interest in acquiring Kai, recognizing his potential as a valuable asset. However, the decision was made to keep Kai within the Beauregard Parish Sheriffs Office, much to the community’s delight. Officer Charles McKinney, Kai’s handler, expressed his appreciation for the support, stating, these dogs are a “small piece of the pie, but it’s a huge contribution for the future plans we have here at the sheriff’s department.”
As the partnership between Benoit Motors and the BPSO continues to flourish, the community can rest assured that Kai and Brick, the newest additions to the K-9 unit, will play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and well-being of Beauregard Parish residents.
When asked why things like this were important to Jason he said “As long as the community is helping us do what we do, we will continue to do what we do and this is just part of the process.”
