Brix has been out on search and rescues, criminal tracks and narcotics assignments 37 times, as of early September, and many of those times were during off-duty hours. Several law enforcement groups participated in the search for a missing six-year old Fristoe boy, during an early August tornado, but it was Brix who located the area where the child was found 45 minutes after he began the hunt. By that time, the child had been missing five hours. He more recently located an unconscious adult in the woods and led deputies to a location where a fleeing suspect had left a stolen car. These efforts have led to 26 arrests.

“A K-9 unit is needed here,” said Deputy Mathews. “It would take a lot of manpower to cover the area that Brix covers, and he can track in areas that are not visible for law enforcement personnel in cars or helicopters.”

It costs Deputy Mathews about $400 a month to maintain Brix. The dog does not qualify for federal grants because he is not the property of the Sheriff’s office. He eats 50 pounds of food each month, has medical bills and uses expensive equipment such as a ballistic vest and harness. The deputy pays for the dog’s gear himself. He needs good quality tools that will make sure that he and Brix come home safely. Deputy Mathews has already spent $7,000 on the dog and recently began fund-raising visits around the county to try and get gear, food or money to help defray some of his expenses.

Deputy Mathews was a military police officer during six years of service in the U. S. Army. He served two years as an officer in a boot camp facility in Illinois before being hired as a Benton County Deputy Sheriff in February 2008. His decision to buy Brix, whose real name is Bronko vom Kloakenwasser, was endorsed by his family which treats the dog as a pet when he is not on duty.

“We are all a family,” said Mrs. Mathews. “He protects us and I feel safe with him.”