The Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office announces that Deputy Devotie Bailey has completed the demanding 12-week K-9 Trainer’s Course hosted by Thorn K-9, and is now a certified K-9 trainer.

During the course, Deputy Bailey and his K-9 partner, Drako, trained 12–14 hours a day and completed more than 300 tracks in a wide variety of conditions. They worked through difficult terrain, wooded areas, hard surfaces, and long roadway tracks, while training in all kinds of weather, such as heavy rain, high winds, to dry, drought-like conditions. All of this was done to prepare them for the real-world situations they may face while serving Jackson Parish.

Along with their tracking work, the team trained in tactical integration, working with tactical units in both indoor and outdoor environments. This included learning to move with teams, support high-risk operations, and operate within larger tactical units during complex scenarios. All of these skills strengthen the support the JPSO can provide across our community.

“This certification strengthens our agency’s ability to maintain a capable K-9 division and further prepares Deputy Bailey and K-9 Drako to serve our parish with confidence, courage, and compassion. Their training also equips them to assist neighboring agencies through mutual aid and joint training when needed, helping us build stronger regional partnerships.” – Jackson Parish Sheriff Brent Barnett