BACK THE BLUE ALERT: AG Moody Recognizes K9s for Rescuing 3 yr old

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today presented Back the Blue Awards to two bloodhounds from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. K9s Copper and Zinc recently helped find a three-year-old boy with autism who went missing in a wooded area. Copper and Zinc searched the area and located the boy 200 yards away. The K9s found the boy in less than 30 minutes with just a few scratches and no serious injuries.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Copper and Zinc are treasured partners to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. It is because of Copper and Zinc that this young boy is safe and reunited with his family. I want to thank Deputies Robert Lenzo and Josh Chandler for taking such good care of their K9s and training them so well. I am sure this latest rescue mission will not be the last success story we hear involving Copper and Zinc.”

Attorney General Moody today visited the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office to present the awards to Copper and Zinc, as well as handlers, Deputies Josh Chandler and Robert Lenzo. Deputy Chandler is the primary trainer and handler of K9 Copper, a one and a half-year-old female bloodhound. Deputy Chandler has been with SRSO for more than a year and previously served the Florida Department of Corrections for eight years. Deputy Lenzo is the primary trainer and handler of K9 Zinc, a one and half-year-old male bloodhound. Deputy Lenzo has been with SRSO for two years and previously served the FDC for 12 years.

SRSO started using bloodhounds last year to help find missing individuals and fleeing suspects. The K9s have since found nine people, including senior citizens. The Bloodhound Tracking Unity recently competed in the Southern States Man Hunt Field Trial Tracking Competition and took second place.

To nominate a law enforcement officer, citizen or organization for a Back the Blue Award, please email Georgia.Pevy@MyFloridaLegal.com.

For more information about the Attorney General’s Back the Blue Award, click here.

To receive video of the news conference without music, or for additional b-roll footage, please email Trevor.DeGroot@MyFloridaLegal.com.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Back the Blue campaign highlights law enforcement officers, citizens and organizations taking extraordinary steps to forge positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Supporting law enforcement is a top priority for Attorney General Moody and the mission of Back the Blue is to commend Florida’s brave law enforcement officers and Floridians who back them.