Sheriff’s office raises enough for new K-9

By ANDREW MCGINN

a.mcginn@beeherald.com

The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is likely getting a new puppy for Christmas — a puppy, albeit, that could tear a grown man’s arm off at the shoulder.

The sheriff’s office is finalizing an agreement to purchase Bos, a German shepherd from Canada, to succeed the aging Leo as its K-9 after independently raising $15,000 in just a matter of months for a new K-9.

“I can’t thank the citizens enough,” Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams said Wednesday.

With a price tag of $14,700, Bos — assuming another buyer doesn’t swoop in before the contract is finalized — will be the fifth K-9 to serve with the local sheriff’s office. Each has been funded entirely with donations, but the latest fundraiser shaved three months off the process.

“It definitely shows our citizens support us,” Williams said.

Leo, a German shepherd, joined the sheriff’s office in early 2014, but has since started developing hip problems that are common to K-9s, Williams said.

“He’s not as agile as we need him to be,” Williams explained.

Leo was bred in the Czech Republic and only understood commands in German — a feature that prevented a suspect from mimicking his handler’s voice.

As the years went on, he picked up all the important English words — the likes of sit and stay.

Leo has enjoyed an award-winning career with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. With Williams, then-chief deputy and his original handler, the duo won a four-state award in 2015 from the United States Police Canine Association for the top narcotics bust during the first half of 2014 — a bust that intercepted six pounds of marijuana.

At that time, Leo had been on the job for all of two weeks.

To date, Leo has intercepted roughly 16 pounds of marijuana; five ounces of meth; an ounce of cocaine; and a couple dozen ecstasy pills, Williams said.

In such a small county, he said, “That’s more than I’d like to see.”

Deputy Christopher Frehse is currently the sheriff’s office K-9 handler, and will be partnered with Bos following his purchase and 12 weeks of training in Boone County, Williams said.

It’s expected Leo will retire early this winter sometime, he said.

The price of K-9s has steadily increased — in part because each one does more than its predecessor. Leo (cost, $10,000) was trained to protect an officer’s life and can apprehend armed suspects, a notable improvement over Ranger (cost, $4,100), a rescued black Lab whose career was eventually sidelined by routine ear infections.

Bos promises to be an improvement over Leo thanks to his training in bark and hold, in which he stops and barks at a suspect’s feet. Unless recalled, Williams said, Leo would have lunged at and bitten the same suspect.

Despite their imposing bark, German shepherds have the best demeanor for the job, Williams said, as they’re also able to serve effectively as ambassadors for local law enforcement. German shepherds, he said, are an invaluable tool for breaking down barriers with kids who may be fearful of law enforcement.

“They’re very protective, naturally,” Williams said, “but at the same time they’re very social dogs.”