From San Diego County News, by Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office and additional content from CPOC Communications. 

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – May 19, 2025 –  Probation Officer Claudia Romero is working with a relatively new K-9 partner named Lilly that is trained to sniff out narcotics. Lilly and Officer Romeo trained for 10 weeks for a total of 400 hours at the Sheriffs department before getting to work across the county. Together, they are working to keep youth safe by checking for illegal drugs in juvenile facilities like the Youth Transition Campus and East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. 

Lilly is trained to detect five different drugs, and when she finds something, her cue is to sit. She is rewarded with toys, snacks, and vocal encouragement and excitement from Officer Romero.

Their work exemplifies an evidence-based approach to juvenile justice—an approach that balances the need for trust and rehabilitation with accountability. As with other innovative programs across California, Officer Romeo and Lilly offer a model of compassionate enforcement. Their job is to keep youth, officers, and all staff at the facilities safe, healthy, and protected. 

Their efforts align with statewide trends: expanding K‑9 detection teams in probation departments, including those trained to detect fentanyl, and passive-alert units in California’s correctional facilities. These programs underscore the benefits of dogs not as instruments of force, but as vital components in early detection, safety, and trust-building.

Watch the full video here.