The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is using two trained K9s, Ollie and Kai, to address drug smuggling at the Elmwood Correctional Complex in Milpitas. The facility covers 62 acres and houses more than 2,000 inmates. Staff report ongoing attempts to bring contraband into the jail.
The K9s, handled by Deputy Quang Tran and Deputy Gerilynn Gascon, are used to screen mail, search inmate housing, and patrol the perimeter. Since their introduction, K9 Ollie and K9 Kai have helped recover over 900 grams of illegal drugs inside the jail.
Captain Herbie Dela Cruz, Division Commander at Elmwood, said the dogs have assisted in finding large amounts of contraband. Smuggling methods include drug-soaked letters, greeting cards, and hollowed-out tennis balls thrown over fences. Some incidents are linked to gang activity…