At Williams-Brice Stadium, there’s a different kind of athlete on the field, one with four paws, a wagging tail, and a nose for justice. On our first episode “Off the Leash,” we met with Sergeant Mark Tevepaugh and his K9 partner, Poppy, from the University of South Carolina Police Department (USC PD) to learn about their crucial role in keeping the community safe.

Sergeant Tevepaugh’s journey to the K-9 unit started with a personal mission to give back to the university that means so much to his family. After years as a patrol officer, he was drawn to the unique bond he saw between K9 handlers and their partners, and he decided he wanted to be a part of it.

A Nose for the Job: Poppy’s Special Skills

Poppy, a black lab, isn’t your average police dog. She is a specialized K-9 trained in Canine Performance Science (CPS), which allows her to detect the odor of explosives and firearms, even when they’re on a moving person. This is an incredibly valuable skill for events with high foot traffic, like a Gamecock football game.

Her job is all about finding a scent. In a training exercise, Sergeant Tevepaugh showed us how Poppy works. When she detects a scent, her body language changes, and she alerts him to the source. Her reward? Not a treat, but her favorite toy, a “chuck it.” This keeps her focused on her job and prevents her from being distracted by food. This toy-driven motivation is key to her success.

More Than Just Game Day

While Poppy is a staple at every home football game, her work goes far beyond the stadium. The USC K-9 unit’s main goal is to build a positive relationship with the community. They often train on campus, like on Green Street, to help students and staff feel safe and to give the community a chance to see law enforcement in a different, more approachable light. This is a testament to the USC K-9 program’s commitment to creating friendly, approachable dogs. Poppy’s calm demeanor around Sergeant Paul’s children is a direct result of this training. The program’s mission is to show the community that if they can trust the dogs, they can trust the police department.

The Power of Collaboration

The USC K-9 program, which is still relatively new, relies heavily on collaboration with other law enforcement agencies in the area. By conducting joint training sessions, they are able to share knowledge and improve their skills, ensuring that they are all prepared to respond to any situation.

Sergeant Tevepaugh’s advice for anyone interested in becoming a K-9 handler is to “go for it. It’s a job that is both challenging and incredibly rewarding”. The relationship between a K-9 and its handler is one of trust, and for Sergeant Tevepaugh, there’s no better feeling than knowing he can rely on Poppy to keep everyone safe.

For more information on the USC K-9 unit or to support their work, visit the USC Police Department website, and for all your pet’s emergency and specialty care needs, don’t forget to visit CVETS.