The Ogden School District is the second in Utah to introduce gun and drug detection dogs

OGDEN, Utah (KUTV) — The Ogden School District is the second school district in Utah to deploy a special detection dog unit to detect firearms and drugs on public school grounds, police said.

According to a statement from Ogden Police, the district's newest school safety resource addition is a two-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer named Piper.

Her handler is Ben Lomand High School security officer R. Mackley, but Piper can be deployed throughout the school district, police said.

“Officer Mackley chose Piper's name in honor of Ben Lomond High School's mascot, the Scots, and their long-standing tradition of a student bagpipe group,” the statement said.

Piper is only the second detection dog of her kind in the state. She was trained to detect firearms, ammunition and certain explosives in the hustle and bustle of the school, surrounded by teenagers.

In addition to her daily training with Mackley and formal bi-monthly training with OPD, Piper's job is to demonstrate her skills to the district's elementary school students.

“It's amazing how many elementary students come to me and know Piper's name,” Mackley said. “These are students I've never met before, but they still know about Piper and are excited to see her.”

Ogden Jo joined Granite on the list of Utah school districts that use K-9 units.

Bolt, also a German Shorthaired Pointer, joined the Granite School District Police Department in March 2023 under the direction of Officer Garrett Penrose.

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