Commissioner : Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs : Joan Heath

K9 Handlers Brian Davis, Brant Benoit and Brad Johnson recognized

FORSYTH, Ga. - The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) honored K9 Handlers Brian Davis, Brant Benoit and Brad Johnson as the Bobby Franklin Award recipients at the 13th Annual GDC Awards ceremony on August 8 at GDC headquarters in Forsyth, Ga.

“Brad, Brian, and Brant are receiving this honor because of their assistance in helping the Lavonia Police Department in tracking down Khari Anthony Dashaun Gordon after he shot at two of their officers,” said Assistant Commissioner Ricky Myrick. “There is nothing more dangerous to law enforcement, than having men on the run; and because of this these brave GDC employees did not hesitate and they were able to recapture Gordon without anyone else being harmed.”

The Bobby Franklin Award was created to honor the memory of Correctional Officer Bobby Franklin of the Colwell Probation Detention Center.  Officer Franklin died on August 20, 2003 while deployed in Iraq.  He was a Staff Sergeant with the 210th National Guard Military Police in Franklin, North Carolina, and voluntarily lengthened his tour of duty to remain with his troops. He began his career with the Department of Corrections in 1987. 

In December 2016, the Georgia Department of Corrections was called upon to track suspect Khari Anthony Dashaun Gordon who had shot two Lavonia Police officers during a traffic stop. Canine Handlers Davis and Benoit were the first on the scene and immediately obtained a description of the suspect and began establishing a track. Handlers Davis and Benoit and Operations Chief Johnson, along with a Sheriff’s deputy, were able to locate the suspect hiding in a thicket with what appeared to be a 9MM. The men recovered the suspect and successfully turned him over to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Several key officials were on hand for the ceremony, which was attended by more than 250 guests.  Making the award presentation with Commissioner Greg Dozier were State Senator Tyler Harper, Board of Corrections member Christopher Clark, Chief of Staff Timothy C. Ward, Assistant Commissioners Ricky Myrick, Scott Poitevint, Jay Sanders, Randy Sauls, and Director of Professional Development Terry Edge and Director of Professional Standards Clay Nix.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5248 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.