By Abbey Nutter
The Lebanon Democrat, Tenn.
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Sheriff Robert Bryan introduced the Wilson County Commission to the newest tool that’s helping keep Wilson County Schools safe.
Zena and Zander are gun and ammunition detection dogs that make daily rounds in Wilson County Schools. They’ve been in place since the start of the school year.
“You hear all across the country, we’ve got to protect our schools,” Bryan said. “We’re protecting our schools with anything we can put in these schools.”
The benefits that have stemmed from the partnership between the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office and the Wilson County School District go beyond just school safety.
“They’re a calming force to these kids,” Bryant said. “They can have a kid having a breakdown or something like that, let them see this dog and it just sort of calms everything down.”
Wilson County Director of Schools Jeff Luttrell said that the K-9 units are working at all times, inside the schools, at events and at games.
“People know that we’re on the lookout,” Luttrell said. “We’re going to do everything within our power to protect our schools.”
Luttrell said he was hesitant at first, but then saw the benefits in other districts that had added K-9 units to their safety measures.
“There’s kids that look forward to seeing these dogs in our schools,” Luttrell said. “They’re getting to know our kids, our families, and even a promised visit can change the behavior of a student.”
District 9 Commissioner Blake Hall spoke about the program from a teacher’s perspective.
“I’ve had Zena in my classroom and those kids absolutely loved it,” Hall said. “They were thrilled to have her in there and just to meet her. I’ve seen Zander in the hallways.”
District 23 Commissioner Jeremy Reich has also been able to see the K-9 units firsthand.
“I know that we want to stay on the cutting edge here in Wilson County , and I would like to be the first to say that I would like to see this program extended and get to the point where we have one of these K-9 officers within every one of our high schools,” Reich said. “I think it would go very, very far for the security of our children and that’s what we’re here for.”
NEXT: In this Policing Matters podcast clip, Andre Lemay shares how firearm detection dogs are providing a discreet but powerful layer of protection on campus. From detecting ghost guns to building trust with students, these K-9s are reshaping how schools think about safety — without turning them into fortresses.
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