Canine officers make their mark on Indiana police forces

GREENWOOD, Ind. (AP) - The officers are trained nearly from birth to sniff out drugs, track a missing person or a criminal on the run and leap into action to fight an aggressive suspect on command.

Local K-9 officers are performing those duties daily, but unlike their human colleagues, they serve much shorter careers before they are retired and replaced.

The Greenwood Police Department recently retired one of its dogs, Remco, a 12-year-old Belgian Malinois, who now spends his days in Officer Rich Kelly's home instead of the back seat of the patrol car. Remco stood before the city board of works, red chew toy gripped in his jaws, and received a proclamation and plaque from the mayor on his last day.

If Greenwood chooses to replace Remco, another officer will have to ready themselves to help pick a new pooch for the department and take on the responsibility of training and caring for the dog daily. A new police dog may cost $15,000 to $20,000 up front, but a healthy dog can serve about 10 years on the force.

More than half of Johnson County police departments have at least one K-9 officer, including the Center Grove Police Department, the Daily Journal reported (http://bit.ly/1vSxN1y ). They specialize in narcotics or apprehension, or can be trained in both, and are selected by police departments based on the skills they need. The dogs often help by serving as a noisy and intimidating backup during traffic stops or incidents, but are also called on to help search for drugs or track missing people or suspects on the run.

Canine partners also keep officers safe by deterring criminals from trying to fight or run from police, said Johnson County Sheriff's Office Deputy Kerry Hamilton, who is now handling his second dog.

"I've had guys tell me before, 'If you didn't have that dog, I would have ran or I would have fought you,'" Hamilton said.

When a police department chooses to get a new police dog, the process starts at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana, in the north-central part of the state. Some dogs excel at drug searches, others have been trained more for apprehension and some can be trained in both. Choosing a dog is primarily based on what the department needs and then finding a dog that works well with the handler. For example, Center Grove Police Department selected their Dutch shepherd Duxo, who specializes in narcotics work, because the school police don't expect they'll need him to attack many criminals, handler Evan Preston said.

Handlers and dogs then go through a five- or six-week training course together to practice commands, run through exercises and build a relationship together. The dog has to get comfortable with his new partner, but also know when it's time for work, Hamilton said.

"It's amazing in the fact that the first dog that we had, he was so social. Then, within a flick of a switch, he knew. He can understand or sense when bad things are about to happen and (a dog) is one of those tools out on the street," Hamilton said.

K-9 handlers will often respond to more calls than the average patrol officer, Hamilton said. If an Alzheimer's patient wanders away from home, a suspect flees from a robbery or police believe there are drugs in a car or home, they will call in the K-9 partner to assist. Since not every department has a dog and some officers work different shifts, local police try to help out other agencies whenever possible, Preston said.

Handlers are responsible for everyday care of their dogs. The dogs need frequent exercise, daily training to reinforce their skills and a strict diet to stay in working shape. But they become a part of the officer's family like any other dog, handlers said.

"It's the dirtiest job you'll ever have but the most rewarding job. I have hair in my car, my house, my couches, everywhere," Preston said. "We spend pretty much every minute together. He's a pet when he's at home and he knows when we're at work and when I start putting my uniform on at home he starts pacing around and is ready to go."

After retirement, local departments let the handler keep the dog for its senior years, but it takes time to adjust.

"Even for me, I'll be somewhere and it will just hit me that I need to run out and check on the dog and then I realize I don't have to worry anymore," Kelly said.

Hamilton's first dog, Robbie, spent nearly four years lounging on the couch in retirement. When Hamilton had the opportunity to get another dog, he took it. The dog is a great tool for police, but also a friend and great partner on the job, he said.

"It's a joy to come to work because you've got instant backup and that dog will do anything you say because his world revolves around you," Hamilton said.

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Information from: Daily Journal, http://www.dailyjournal.net