With the goal of enhancing security measures, Grand Blanc Community Schools have recently added a new member to their safety team: Ace, a specially trained K9 officer. Ace’s presence at Grand Blanc High School is a proactive step aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff. The initiative is a collaboration between the school district and the City of Grand Blanc Police Department, reflecting a shared commitment to creating a secure educational environment.
Lieutenant Bryan Byarski highlights the district’s dedication to preventative safety measures. “Grand Blanc Community Schools have always been very proactive with the safety and security of their students and staff,” Byarski states. “Ace will serve as one of those proactive measures. People may assume there is a gun problem at the school since they now have a ‘gun detection’ dog, but that is not the case. We, working with the school district, want to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the safety of the kids.”
“We, working with the school district, want to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the safety of the kids.”
Lt. Bryan Byarski
Byarski further explains that while the district has not experienced significant gun-related incidents, Ace’s presence acts as a deterrent. “Unfortunately, there are juveniles carrying firearms who are responsible for a lot of the violence in the Genesee County area. That violence has not spilled into Grand Blanc Schools, but Ace is there to help deter any of that activity from coming this way.”
Detective Ryan Rouse, Ace’s handler, emphasizes the extensive training that Ace has undergone to prepare for his role. “Ace and I went through about 200 hours of training on gun detection, ammo detection and human tracking. We were certified as a team as of May 24, 2024.” Rouse is responsible for Ace’s care and well being both on and off duty. “We are a team; Ace is with me full time,” he shares. “He lives with my family and then comes to work with me.”
Ace’s daily duties are designed to maintain a strong, visible presence throughout the school. “His responsibilities at the school are always changing,” says Rouse. “During the school day, Ace will walk hallways and cross paths between the two high school buildings. We will also do some random searches of classrooms and respond to any threats that may come up.” Detective Rouse will maintain training records and report any time Ace is used for a search. “These will help us evaluate the whole program on a yearly basis to see how he does with finding articles during training, and any success he has when called upon in the field,” Byarski adds.
Rouse also notes the strategic importance of unpredictability in Ace’s routine. “We will show our presence in and around the school and then, also do random searches of classes and the parking lots. This way, no one ever truly knows where we will be and when.”
Ace’s introduction to GBHS is more than just a security measure; it’s a statement of the district’s commitment to safety. “Ultimately, the goal for Ace is to provide another level of security for our students and staff,” Byarski informs. “Our goal is that he never finds a gun! We want those who engage in those types of behaviors to know that it’s not welcome at Grand Blanc, and we’re making every effort to ensure that.”
For Detective Rouse, the primary goal is to prevent violent events from happening. “We want to stop violence from taking place before it occurs,” he states. “This could be a hard thing to measure, because we won’t fully know if just the knowledge of Ace and me being at the school stops someone from bringing something there.”
Ace’s care and well-being are a top priority for both the school district and the GBPD. Detective Rouse, who is responsible for Ace on and off duty, has secured support from the community. “Briarwood Veterinary Hospital has offered to care for Ace free of charge,” Byarski notes. Additionally, local businesses have contributed to Ace’s needs, including food from Pet Supplies Plus and Koegel Meats.
Having been introduced to students and staff at the end of the previous school year, Ace has already begun interacting with the community. Rouse looks forward to Ace becoming a familiar presence in the school. “Ace will be out in the hallways and crossing paths to interact with students. He may even make some classroom appearances, as well.”
As Ace and Detective Rouse continue their work at GBHS, the district and local law enforcement remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all. While the true impact of Ace’s presence may be difficult to measure, the sense of security and peace of mind he brings to the community is invaluable. The Grand Blanc Community Schools have taken a significant step in ensuring that their proactive approach to safety remains strong and effective.
