Just one week ago today, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody honored our School Resource Unit and its vape-detection canine, Samba, with the Back the Blue Award for Samba’s outstanding performance in detecting vapes and THC in our schools. Today, Samba and her handler, Erica Stamborski, who also received the Back the Blue Award, again proved Samba’s value and demonstrated why she’s deserving of such a prestigious honor!
Earlier today, K9 Handler Stamborski and Samba responded to Leesburg High School for a routine scheduled visit to proactively walk areas of the campus. K9 Samba alerted to a backpack in the media room, which was absent of any students at the time, in an area where students typically leave their belongings. A search of the backpack was conducted, and located inside was a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, which was later determined to be stolen out of Lake County. This alert led to a felony arrest of a student by officers with the Leesburg Police Department.
In addition to locating the firearm, Samba also found three vapes and a cigar in other backpacks.
We are incredibly proud of K9 Samba’s and Handler Stamborski’s efforts and their unwavering dedication to ensuring a safe learning environment for children in Lake County.
(Pictured left to right: Handler Erica Stamborski, K9 Samba, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Captain Michael Marden, and Sheriff Peyton Grinnell)
