Students at all four East Cobb high schools will encounter firearms and explosives detection dogs in hallways and parking lots when classes resume Monday, August 3.

The Cobb County School District is expanding its K-9 detection program to every high school for the 2026-27 school year, deploying 16 specialized dogs trained to sniff out hidden guns and explosives, Michele Newell of WSB-TV reported Monday, July 27. Because the program covers every district high school, that includes Walton, Pope, Lassiter, and Wheeler in East Cobb.

The screenings are unannounced. Students won't know in advance when a dog will be working their campus.

Last year's numbers

The program operated on a smaller scale during 2025-26 but still logged significant volume: more than 19,000 bags screened, approximately 48,000 people checked, and more than 4,000 cars swept, according to WSB-TV's reporting.

How it works

At a demonstration at Pebblebrook High School, Officer Zimmerman showed how his dog, K-9 Waffle, is trained to locate concealed firearms. The handler said Waffle would "drag me behind them" if the dog detected a weapon.

The 16 detection dogs are separate from the district's three narcotics K-9s, which search specifically for drugs. The expanded program focuses exclusively on firearms and explosives.

Dogs chosen for temperament

District officers said the K-9s are selected partly for their approachability. Students can interact with and pet the dogs, which officers say helps build positive relationships between law enforcement and the school community.

Billy Pritz, principal of Kemp Elementary School in Cobb County, told WSB-TV the expansion signals a broader commitment. "Even though we don't have a dog assigned at the elementary level it just shows the commitment to school safety," Pritz said.

What families should know

The Cobb County School District serves 105,738 students across 112 schools and is Georgia's second-largest district. The district's Board of Education recognized the retirement of K-9 Officer Sadie at its June 11 meeting, confirming the program has been active in prior years. The expansion to all 16 high schools marks the broadest deployment yet.

The first day of school is Monday, August 3. Families at Walton, Pope, Lassiter, and Wheeler can expect random K-9 screenings to begin with the new school year.