BMPD receives field trauma kit for K-9
Nonprofit thanks local law enforcement with medical gear for Cayman
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
April 2, 2021
Sharon Hanson presents a field trauma kit donated by STAND T.A.L.L. to BMPD K-9 Cayman and his handler, Officer Logan Newhouse. Photo by Fred McCormick
A field trauma kit presented April 1 by Hendersonville-based nonprofit organization STAND T.A.L.L. (Thank A Local Lawman) will help keep the Black Mountain Police Department’s four-legged officer safe.
Founder and president of STAND T.A.L.L., Ron Kauffman and vice president Sharon Hanson presented Cayman, a two-year old Belgian Malinois, and K-9 officer Logan Newhouse with the supplies
The kit contains first aid implements that could be used to assist the K-9 in the event of an injury on the job. A supply of Narcan, used to treat overdose victims who use or come in contact with opioids, was included.
The field trauma kit was purchased for $500 after Hanson contacted the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department and was informed that the BMPD may be in need in of one. STAND T.A.L.L. is currently engaged in an initiative, led by Hanson, to fund over a dozen K-9 field trauma kits and purchase K-9 bulletproof vests in four area counties. In 2019, STAND T.A.L.L. raised funds for the materials to construct the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Agility Training Park.
“Ms. Hanson has been the leader for all of our K-9 protection efforts in counties we serve for the past three years,” Kauffman said in a statement regarding the initiative.
Sharon Hanson and Ron Kauffman of STAND T.A.L.L., a Hendersonville-based nonprofit organization that supports law enforcement in the area, prepare to present a field trauma kit to BMPD on April 1. Photo by Fred McCormick
The donation of the kit and Narcan was good news for BMPD, according to Lieutenant Chris Staton, the supervisor of the K-9 program.
“We’re very grateful,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much it means to us to have an organization like STAND T.A.L.L. available to step up to help us and all law enforcement in Western North Carolina. I am very pleased they contacted us.”
The Narcan can be used to treat the K-9 if he were to inhale a substance such as fentanyl during a drug search or seizure, Staton added.
BMPD began its K-9 program in 2011, when Staton was partnered with the department’s first K-9, Brisco, who was retired in 2018. Newhouse was partnered that year with Cayman, who was trained for narcotics detection, tracking missing persons or suspects, criminal apprehension and building searches in Sanford.
STAND T.A.L.L. was founded in 2016 with a mission to support the unbudgeted needs of area law enforcement. For more information about the nonprofit organization, visit thestandtall.org.