Sonitrol, a 13-month-old Malinois, was donated to the Chattanooga Police Department by the electronic security company of the same name. His working name is Sully, after United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, one of the five servicemen killed during a 2015 terrorist attack at the Naval Operations Support Center in Chattanooga.
The Chattanooga Police Department is getting another K-9 officer, according to a CPD news release.
Sonitrol, a 13-month-old Malinois, was donated to the department by the electronic security company of the same name. His working name is Sully, after United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan, one of the five servicemen killed during the 2015 terrorist attack at the Naval Operations Support Center in Chattanooga.
"Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan acted bravely and sacrificed his own life while helping others in his unit while they were under attack," said CPD K-9 Sergeant Rusty Morrison in the release. "Our K-9's are willing to do the same for the officers they work with. We believe this is a great way to continue to honor GySgt. Sullivan's service to this country and our community."
Sonitrol/Sully will be assigned to the newest CPD officer in the K-9 unit, Officer Paul Winkelman. Winkelman has served as an officer in the Neighborhood Policing Bureau since he was hired in April 2015. He was then selected to CPD's K-9 Unit in July 2019. Sonitrol/Sully and Winkelman join six other dogs, five officers and a sergeant who make up the CPD K-9 Unit, the release states.
Sonitrol/Sully will train with CPD K-9 Unit trainers and Winkelman for at least six months before he can test for USPCA certification.
"We truly appreciate the support from Sonitrol," said CPD Chief David Roddy in the release. "The skills these dogs bring to the department help officers keep the community safer and help make sure their handlers go home to their families after each shift."
Sonitrol/Sully is joining "a team of some of the best K-9s and handlers in the southeast," according to the release. The CPD reports their K-9 unit scored the highest among other K-9 teams in the region at this week's United States Police Canine Association Mini Trials in Alabama. Winkelman and K-9 Yubi brought home the highest score overall in Narcotic Detection while handler Clay Holmes and K-9 Dave earned the highest score overall in Tracking.
The company Sonitrol has donated more than a dozen K-9 officers to law enforcement agencies around the country, the release states.