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Meet Daphne: The K-9 Officer Working Behind the Scenes to Keep Jax State Safe

by Brett Buckner

Jacksonville, AL (04/29/2026) — The Jacksonville State University Police Department has added a new member to its ranks, and Officer Cody Quinn has added a new member to his family. Daphne, a 2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever, joined the department in July and is trained to detect firearms and explosives, particularly in large crowds.

Jax State hosts more than 300,000 visitors each year for special events. That figure does not include the university's approximately 10,300 students and 1,200 faculty and staff-all of whom benefit from an added layer of protection, explained Jax State Chief of Police Michael Barton.

"To support these special events, which are a big part of our planning efforts, as well as the operational efforts of the university police, having a canine resource to do pre-event sweeps and inspections during the event is incredibly important. The third piece of that is responding to and supporting investigative efforts for suspicious incidents.

"[Daphne] is a very important member of the team. We view her as another officer."

Officer Cody Quinn spent six weeks last summer at the Global K9 (GK9) Academy in Opelika training to become a canine handler, after which Daphne became his full-time partner. The duo primarily works second shift, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., on campus, as well as many Jax State special events. Both are on always on call for mutual aid response.

On patrol, Daphne's all business, trained to help keep campus secure. Off duty, she's a tailwagging magnet for every outstretched hand that crosses her path.

"It's completely different from a standard patrol officer with your day-to-day duties," Cody said. "Having a canine, it's like having a child, a toddler that's wild 24/7. It's a constant battle to keep her calm and to chill out because she loves to run and play with toys. She's a very energetic dog."

When Quinn and Daphne make their rounds, students and faculty are allowed to pet her, take pictures. "

"She's all about her toys," Quinn said. "The faculty, staff, and students love to play with Daphne, throw her ball, and watch her chase it. However, when we're at an event and she's actually working, she's focused on doing her job."

Daphne lives with Quinn, his wife, daughter and their two dogs.

"She made the household wild there for a while," Cody said, laughing. "But she's a great dog. She's loving and caring, especially with my family. She is a work dog, but you do have that personal connection."

Daphne was trained using the Vapor Wake (VWK9) method, which allows dogs to detect person-borne explosives in real time by tracking scent trails-known as vapor wake-left by moving individuals. Developed by Auburn University's Canine Performance Sciences program, these dogs are trained to operate in crowded, high-traffic environments, following scent plumes to their source.

Prior to Daphne's arrival, Jax State PD was reliant on the Jacksonville Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's canines.

"Now we're able to contribute and take ownership and leadership in that," Chief Barton said. "We're able to deploy and offer that resource to other surrounding jurisdictions, serving as a good, regional steward and partner."

Daphne proved her skills during football season when she and another canine alerted to scent traces of explosives in one of the back compartments of a charter bus. After talking with the bus driver and the company's management, Jax State PD learned the bus had been used 10 days earlier for explosives canine training, which explained the residual scent.

Adding a K9 officer has been a goal for the department for a number of years. Jax State was able to partner with the Alabama Law Enforcement Appreciation Foundation as well as Global K9, both of which made contributions to the project. The value of what these groups have donated to Jax State represents about $40,000.

"It wouldn't have been possible without the partnership with both of those entities," Chief Barton said. "It's an extremely expensive venture."

Daphne and the Jax State PD recently received a bullet- and knife-proof vest through a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. Each vest is valued at $1,800 and weighs an average of 4-5 lbs.

The vest protects her," Chief Barton said. "We want to implement as much officer safety as possible because we look at her as one of us."

But the most important part of having Daphne join the staff is the officer who's willing to serve as her handler.

"That's not just the officer but his family's willingness to take this dog and make it a member of their family," Chief Barton said. "Daphne lives with them, does everything with them, and then of course comes to work with Cody. That level of commitment and willingness from the officer and his family is what truly makes this program a success."

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

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Jacksonville State University Officer Cody Quinn and K-9 Officer Daphne. (Photo by Alyssa Cash/Jax State Digital Media Services)

Jacksonville State University Officer Cody Quinn and K-9 Officer Daphne. (Photo by Alyssa Cash/Jax State Digital Media Services)

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