VIDEO: New Bern Fire-Rescue is welcoming a new Arson Detection K-9.
This is the second dog to join the squad from the State Farm Arson Dog Program.
K-9 Darby was the first dog to complete the program, and retired on Tuesday night.
Darby sniffed more than 100 fires and identified 50 of them to be arson. Eight suspects are behind bars on arson charges because of Darby, and her handler Fire Marshall Danny Hill’s work.
Now, it’s time to pass the torch.
The newest squad member is Bobby. He’s a 2 and 1/2-year-old Labrador Retriever. He’s not known for his bark or his bite, but he is known for his sniffer.
“As you can imagine, arson is an incredibly difficult crime to find and prosecute because a lot of your evidence is destroyed by the fire,” said Craig Jarman with the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
Bobby and his handler, Inspector Jonathan Gaskins are trying to fix that.