They say that teamwork makes the dream work and for close friends and colleagues, Detective Clay Young and Detective Weston Coleman, describing them with this statement couldn’t be any closer to the truth. Together, they’re solving crimes and reducing criminal activity within our county lines in a substantial way. Both detectives are employees of the Swainsboro Police Department and for a decade now they have been aiding the department and our community by using their own techniques to put an end to perpetration and corruption.
During their time working together they have built a trusting friendship that has benefitted the residents of Emanuel County while working in the Drug Suppression unit. Detective Young, who has been on the force since 2012, is the K9 handler for K9 officer Maya, and Detective Coleman, who has been on the force since 2013, is the remote pilot of the two drones that are used to find and capture suspects, drugs, and missing people within, but not limited to, our community.
“I’m the drone pilot and he’s our K9 officer,” explained Coleman. “That’s two of our major responsibilities.”
It all began back in 2012 when Detective Clay Young knew that Chief Randy Ellison was preparing the department for the Drug Suppression Unit.
“When I got hired my five-year goal was to become a part of that unit and after four years of going after that goal, I took over running it,” explained Young. “Then in my second year of running the drug suppression unit, Detective Coleman was assigned to me.”
When Coleman first began his career in the Drug Suppression Unit, he was assigned to Detective Young as a Corporal, then was promoted to Sergeant, and was moved to a supervisor’s position on night shift patrol. After some time, his night shift duties were replaced by another officer, and he was able to return to the drug unit as a sergeant.
When talking about how Coleman began working with drones in the drug suppression unit he said:
“I’ve always been a big technology fan, so working with drones was right up my alley. The drones have been a part of law enforcement for a little while now and the Chief had considered getting a drone unit for the police department for a little while before he did. After I got a personal drone and learned how to fly it, I spoke with the Chief about how critical one would be to helping the department in every aspect. So, he told me if I got my Drone Pilots license then he would get a drone for the department.”
So, that’s just what Coleman did. After receiving his license, the department made the purchase of a thermal drone called the DGI Mavic 2 enterprise advance, thanks to the funds obtained through asset forfeiture from local drug bust cases. Since having the drone, the department has made many arrests due to the advantages of a bird’s eye view. However, without the help of Detective Young and K9 Maya tracking the grounds below, these major arrests would not have been possible.
“I’m able to locate a suspect from the air with the drone so Maya can track the suspect from what I’m seeing. She has also located many additional items of evidence that many suspects had tossed while running,” explained Coleman.
Aside from the drone, throughout the two and a half years Maya has been working for the Swainsboro Police Department, she has contributed to an astonishing 265 arrests while being handled by Detective Young. Now that she and Young have the help of Detective Coleman, no suspect is safe and secure from the eyes of the law.
“Not only does she help us find drugs, but she helps us with the general crime side of everything as well. During her first year of working with the Department, a suspect blew up a car then fled on foot, and she tracked him for two miles, all the way to his front door. That just kills them in court because of what she can do,” said Young.
Maya spent the duration of a month undergoing extensive training at Custom K9 Unlimited in Gainesville to learn how to be the incredible police dog that she is today. The certification that she holds is nationally recognized as well and is one of the most difficult and important accomplishments to obtain.
“School was tough and so was the training,” Detective Young explained. “If we were to miss on the controlled substance side or detection side, we fail and that’s it.”
He additionally stated that to become a handler you also have to pass a written exam and prove that you are capable of handling and working with the selected dog perfectly. If you fail the written task, or if you are deemed unable to properly care for and work with the dog, then you don’t pass the class. Thankfully though, Detective Young and Maya passed with flying colors and she’s able to work for our community and assist Detective Coleman today.
“She’s an asset as far as everything goes,” Young stated with a smile. “Our main goal by obtaining Maya and the Drone was to create a safer city, and she and Detective Coleman have helped us to accomplish that.”
To read more about Maya, visit emanuelcountylive.com and click on this story to find past Blade coverage about Swainsboro Police Department’s K9.
