Greensboro, North Carolina (WGHP) — You’ve seen K-9s at airports, and now one gas station chain is hiring dogs to keep customers safe at gas pumps.
K-9 units have been installed at three Sheetz gas stations in Greensboro, North Carolina. Some say the move doesn’t surprise them.
“The fact that we’ve gotten to this point is a little alarming. It’s like the world has gone crazy,” Amanda Williams told Nexstar’s WGHP.
Sheetz Supervisor Bill Macy said the Greensboro location will be the first in the state to feature a K-9 unit provided by Virginia-based American K-9 Interdiction.
Wendover Avenue, West Market Street and Spring Garden Street are places where longtime Greensboro resident Michael Rogers says K-9s are needed.
“That’s good. People don’t know how to behave in public. If you can’t follow the rules, let them bite you,” Rogers said.
When asked why Sheetz chose to hire a K-12 unit, they explained with the following statement:
“The safety of our Sheets customers and employees is our top priority. We are continually evaluating which stores need additional support, and as an additional safety measure, we have expanded the safety of several Greensboro stores to We are implementing additional security measures, including for K-12 units.”
Some, like Henry Boyd, say they are sceptical.
“I think it depends. I don’t know what you’d need a K-9 for unless it’s for drugs or something. Other than that, they’re just police officers,” Boyd explained.
A spokesperson for Sheetz told WGHP that the K-9 is part of a test and there is no timeline for how long it will be there. Greensboro Police did not immediately respond to WGHP’s request for information on call volume at the affected Sheetz stores.
Earlier this year, Sheetz announced it was implementing additional security measures at its Greensboro store. Police officer shot and killed while confronting suspect With theft. The suspects were allegedly trying to steal beer from the sergeant. Dale Nix, who was off-duty, confronted them in December. Police said one of the suspects approached Nix’s car at the Seat scene and fired shots at Nix.
Nix died at a local hospital. Three people were charged in the incident.
The gas station where the incident occurred is not one where a K-9 unit is deployed.
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