Centerville police dog makes quick impact

CENTERVILLE, Ind. (AP) - It didn't take the newest officer of the Centerville Police Department long to begin making an impact on the job.

Her first night on duty, Kendra, a 3-year-old Dutch Shepherd, assisted the Richmond Police Department with a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of a woman on a felony charge for possession of a legend drug and a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

"She knows what she is doing," said CPD officer Matt Alexander, Kendra's handler. "We have had a couple of chances now to go out and assist on a traffic stop. It is just a matter of me getting more familiar with her and learning how to work with her."

Kendra and Alexander went through a 60-hour training course together before she came to work with the officer in Centerville.

Alexander spent hours researching dogs to find Kendra, CPD Chief Ed Buchholz said. Then came the daunting task of coming up with the money to purchase Kendra and the training she and Alexander received.

"We approached the Moose Lodge and went to their board meeting," Alexander said. "We had something written up with a description of the dog, and they agreed to help us raise the money for the dog."

Moose Lodge 167 in Richmond donated $4,000 to allow CPD to purchase Kendra, and Hills Pet Nutrition has agreed to donate her food to the department, Alexander said.

"The Moose Lodge has been a tremendous supporter of ours," Buchholz said. "They donated money for us to get our (in-car) computers, and they have given money to help us out on a few occasions. This wouldn't have been possible without them."

Alexander said Kendra is trained in tracking and narcotics recognition as well as officer protection. Those resources will be valuable to the department and to other agencies in Wayne County.

"A department our size, you use all the resources you have, and the dog is another resource for us to enhance our enforcement efforts," Buchholz said. "For instance, if you make a traffic stop, it is legal to walk the dog around the vehicle during a routine stop, but you can't extend the stop to do it.

"When we pull someone over, we have to call another agency and see if they are available to bring a dog, and sometimes you just don't have the time to get them there. Now, we can not only respond here, but if the PACE team on (Interstate) 70 needs a dog, we are right here to help. That cooperation will help all the departments in the area, and that goes the same for them helping us."

Another spot where Kendra will likely make a difference is in Centerville schools, Buchholz said. The dog can be used during presentations at schools to better gain the attention of young children. And at the request of the school, Kendra could be made available to do drug sweeps, Buchholz said.

"We have a great relationship with the Centerville schools, but anyone who says there aren't drugs in the schools just doesn't know what's going on," Buchholz said. "But this is another way we can try to keep them out of the school. The K-9 will be a big asset."