news-record.com

GIBSONVILLE — A four-footed officer has joined the town’s police force.
Rik, a Dutch shepherd, began duty with the Gibsonville Police Department late last month with Officer Daniel Emery.
The 22-month-old dog, which is on duty with Emery, is trained to detect narcotics and other illegal substances, track people, restrain suspects, defend Emery and search buildings for people.
The partners will patrol the town by foot and car, and the public will see them at many special events such as town festivals.
Emery only trained with the dog for a few weeks in New Jersey, but they bonded right away, he said.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” he said, as Rik stood on his back legs to lick Emery’s face.
“For me, it was always a lifetime dream to be a K-9 officer,” Emery said. “They’ve just always fascinated me by what they can do.”
The police department requested a dog with an easy-going personality that would be good around people but able to immediately switch to duty-mode upon his handler’s command.
“His obedience is phenomenal,” Emery said.
The dog was raised and trained by Serious K-9, based in North Carolina and New Jersey. Gibsonville’s 2010-11 budget included $20,000 for the purchase, training and care of a police dog.
Police Chief Mike Woznick said that with Rik on the force the town won’t have to request a dog from other police departments for narcotics searches — a dog’s nose can detect stashes police officers would otherwise miss — or when trying to track a missing person or criminal. And other agencies’ dogs aren’t always available, he said.
Rik also will help the department with community relations, Woznick said.
“He’s going to be a good asset to the police department and the community,” Emery said.

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at 373-7088 or jamie.kennedy@news-record.com.