K-9 BELLA STORY BY BEN MILLER As you walk the halls of any Gainesville School this year, you may notice that we have a new addition to our security team: K-9 Officer Bella. Bella’s handler is Officer Dustin Cleveland, and the two came from Hall County Sheriff’s Department after working there together for 3 years. Bella received her North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) certification in 2020 and recently earned her Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) certification this year. Although Bella is elite in her training, what makes her special is that she is still just as loveable as any other dog. If you see Bella around and she is not actively working, make sure to pet her. She loves it. Officer Cleveland notes that “Bella is unique because she really enjoys the interaction with humans and being affectionate and shows no signs of aggression.” As Bella has been integrated into schools, Cleveland states that the students have loved interacting with her. Officer Cleveland is thankful for the warm reception within the system and is thankful to be working to keep our schools safe and create a positive police presence. Bella can be found throughout the halls of Gainesville schools throughout the district, as well as most home sporting events keeping our students safe. Be sure to stop and show her some love next time you see her! You can even follow her on Instagram @BigRedBella.
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.