A fifth-grade class in Lilburn built a doghouse for the city’s newest K-9 officer.
Ajax, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois, was selected to join the force this year. He and his handler, AJ Ajanovic, will start special training in North Carolina on May 1.
Before Ajanovic shipped off for training, the Parkview Christian School students surprised Ajanovic with the doghouse.
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The kids, who worked with other Lilburn officers to complete the project, presented Ajanovic with their final product Tuesday afternoon.
The Lilburn Police Department thanked the fifth grade class for their generosity to the community.
“Even though this is the end of a project, it’s actually the beginning of bigger works to come, because these fifth-graders are going to continue to do things to help other people,” Community Relations Officer Mike Johnson said.
The project also helped foster a positive relationship between the students and law enforcement, Parkview Christian School Principal Cindy Nation said.
“I believe these 5th graders have learned some life lessons they’ll never forget,” Nation said at the unveiling ceremony. “And to quote one of them, they will never look at a police officer the same way, and I think that’s due to the relationships that your officers have built with these students.”
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The police department had previously disbanded its K-9 unit, but revived the program in January after donations from the community made it possible for the department to get Ajax. Ajanovic and Ajax expect to be patrolling the streets by summer, according to a press release.
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