FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 20, 2011

CONTACT: John Schuster
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
305-995-1126

Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho; Mayor of Sweetwater Manny Maroño; representatives from the Jimmy Ryce Foundation; Sweetwater Police Officer Jenna Mendez; Palm Beach Sheriff’s Officer Lewis Ledbetter and dog, “Clue;” Broward Sheriff’s Officer Kevin Bowling and dog, “Lucy;” Jupiter Police Officer Chad Norman and dog, “Sherlock;” Miami-Dade School Police; and students and teachers from Sweetwater Elementary School

Dedication of “Gunner” the bloodhound by The Jimmy Ryce Foundation to the City of Sweetwater

Monday, October 24, 2011
8:30 a.m.

Sweetwater Elementary School
10655 S.W. 4th St.
Sweetwater, FL  33174

Five-month old Gunner, a black and tan bloodhound, was born this past May and was donated to the City of Sweetwater in August. He and his handler, Sweetwater Police Officer Jenna Mendez have been training with Palm Beach Sheriff’s Officer Lewis Ledbetter. Gunner will be ready to start working in about a year.     Bloodhounds have a very keen sense of smell so they are used to track missing persons. After his training, police will be able to use Gunner to track missing children and senior citizens, as well as subjects who are on the run from a crime.  Sweetwater will be offering Gunner’s services to the surrounding cities and counties once he is fully trained.