Fighting crime one training wall at a time
<p>Samuel Connery, a member of Boy Scout Troop 229 and a junior at Post Falls High, constructed a training wall for Post Falls Police's K-9 program for his Eagle Scout project. From left are: Office Jason Hunt with his K-9 Andor, Sgt. Mark Brantl, Connery and Officer Frank Bowne with his K-9 Koda.</p>
POST FALLS - Samuel Connery has done his part to take a bite out of crime.
The 17-year-old junior at Post Falls High constructed a training wall for Post Falls Police's K-9 program for his Eagle Scout project.
"The original K-9 training wall that we had purchased was extremely deteriorated and in dire need of repair or replacement," said Post Falls police Capt. Pat Knight.
The wall is used for drug search training.
"The drugs will be located in one of the numerous holes on the back of the wall," Knight said. "The police service dog will then come up to the wall and attempt to locate which hole the drugs are located."
Knight said it would have cost the police department about $500 to buy a new wall.
Connery, a member of Troop 239 and the son of Milton and Charmaine Connery, earned 22 merit badges to receive the rank of Eagle. He will be honored during a ceremony on March 8. Connery served in leadership roles such as patrol leader, quartermaster, senior patrol leader and Cub Scout mentor.
He has been a Boy Scout since he was 11 and was a Cub Scout before that.
At school, Connery is involved with the wrestling team, Troubadors Elite Choir and the drama department.
After graduation next year, Connery plans to serve on a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He then plans to join the Navy.