Police dog is ready for the street

Gonzo, the Evansville Police Department’s newest K-9, was like most dogs when Sgt. Brent Hoover got the 17-month-old German shepherd last November.

The dog was enthusiastic, playful and a little unpredictable, but also quick to bond to his new handler.

Eight weeks later, Gonzo is on the verge of graduating from a rigorous course of training designed to meet U.S. Police Canine Association (USPCA) standards and prepare him for duty on the city’s streets.

Where once Hoover kept a close eye on him to keep him from chasing a rabbit or darting off unexpectedly, Gonzo now follows commands (given in German).

Called back from chasing a “suspect” — officer Zach Elfreich — Gonzo turns around immediately and returns to Hoover’s side.

“Its like a kid getting older, you give him more and more freedom,” Hoover said.

The secret to training them? An oblong rubber chew toy about the size of a tennis ball and attached to a short piece of heavy cord.

Tossed into the air and bouncing along the ground, it mimics the movements of a small animal such as a rabbit.

“It stimulates their hunting drive,” Hoover said.

Praise from Hoover might be nice, but it’s hard for a fun-loving German shepherd to resist a chance to play with such a toy.

“It’s the ultimate reward,” Hoover said.

A successful completion of a training task can bring a toss of the toy for the dog to retrieve.

The dogs are trained to find and retrieve evidence, climb ladders and steps, locate hidden people, go through narrow spaces, such as culverts, bite and hold onto someone until ordered to release and jump tall fences, shrubs and other obstacles.

They can chase and stop chasing on command and are conditioned not to bite unless commanded to do so.

The training doesn’t stop after the initial eight weeks, Hoover said. The dogs are certified annually in their skills at regional USPCA trials, and officers continue to work with the dogs throughout their time together.

The Evansville Police Department typically has nine K-9 officers, but the death of Elfreich’s dog, Lord, earlier this month has left a hole in the ranks.

Officers still haven’t settled on a dog to replace Lord. Finding just the right one has been a lengthy process, but no more so than any time the department has looked for a new dog. Officers often look at 20 to 30 dogs before finding one.

After testing 10 dogs, Hoover said, officers thought they had found one, but he turned out to have a knee condition.

“We’re not going to take any dog. Some departments will just take anything,” Hoover said.

He said officers plan to go back to the kennel the department usually works with and try more dogs in February.

The dogs are European-bred German shepherds, favored by police because in Europe they’re bred as working dogs, giving them a more muscular build.

However, because they are imported, they can cost as much as $7,000, Hoover said.

But he said it is worth it. Officers typically use the dogs to apprehend suspected felons and suspects who are believed to be armed. They are also used to locate and retrieve evidence.

“The dogs make our job so much safer for officers,” he said. “They can clear a school or warehouse a lot faster than we can. They are a great locating tool for finding and apprehending a suspect.”

This year’s USPCA regional trials will be held in Evansville, June 9-11, bringing K-9s and their handlers from as far as Ohio and Eastern Kentucky, Hoover said.

By Mark Wilson

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