Going Dutch: Morgantown Police Department introduces newest K-9 and handler

Dominion Post

4 days ago

MORGANTOWN — The Morgantown Police Department's newest officer is a bit different than most.
He does not carry a badge, does not drive a cruiser, and spends his nights in a kennel — but he does have a drive like no other.
Edo, a young Dutch shepherd, is currently undergoing training to become the department's newest dual-purpose K-9, trained in both narcotics detection and patrol work.
He is paired with Patrol Officer First Class Marlee France, who is also undergoing training and certification as a first-time K-9 handler with the department.
'This has always been something I wanted to do,' said France, a Preston County native and WVU graduate.
'I've always admired the K-9s and once I got on the road and saw them working, I knew I wanted to be part of it.'
The pair are currently in week three of an eight-week process. If all goes to plan, they will be fully operational by mid-summer.
'We are learning together and I am realizing a lot of the little things matter the most,' France said.
According to Sgt. Brad Palmer, who works with K9s, Edo is the first Dutch shepherd to join the department. The breed, comparable in temperament as well as drive to the Belgian Malinois, is one of three commonly used in law enforcement. German shepherds and Malinois are the others.
Morgantown's K-9 unit, once Edo is certified, will be back to four dogs, with the other current working dogs all being German shepherds.
Edo was selected from Shallow Creek Kennels, a respected provider of law enforcement dogs, many of which are imported from overseas. Morgantown's team tested several dogs across different breeds before selecting Edo.
'The drive he has… it is just constant,' France said. 'He's always ready to work.'
Unlike a pet at home, police dogs like Edo are bred and trained for specific tasks, and their lives are built around that work. They are not family pets, even if they are socialized and friendly.
'There is no 'off switch' with these dogs,' Palmer said. 'When they are not working, they need structured downtime, which is why they are kenneled when off-duty. They are constantly looking for their toy — which means work.'
Play is a huge part of training, but only as a reward. Edo's favorite toy is a ball, and he only gets access to it when he is working or training.
The idea is simple: No play without purpose.
'If he just had his ball all day, it would not mean anything anymore,' Palmer explained. 'The toy is his paycheck; he only earns it when he works.'
France says she sees a clear distinction between Edo and her own two German shepherds at home.
'They will play for a while and then relax. He is always on, always looking to work. That's the biggest difference,' she said. 'But when I grab my keys or start walking to my car, he gets excited. He knows it is time to go to work.'
Palmer talks about how rewarding it is when working with k-9s, 'it is watching the satisfaction of working dogs.'
Police K-9s are more than crime-fighting companions — they are a resource that saves time and manpower.
'These dogs are a force multiplier,' Deputy Chief Christopher Ruehmer said. 'They allow us to do more with less, whether that is detecting narcotics, searching for suspects or performing building searches.'
Edo is being trained to notify his handler in a passive indication when finding drugs.
Despite being trained to work, Edo is very socialized. He has been introduced to children, including France's, and other dogs. Still, officers are careful about where and how the dogs interact outside of work.
'They are trained for patrol,' Palmer emphasized.
'That means their instincts are different. In a real-world situation, if someone's hiding in a bush and the dog finds them first, there is a risk of a bite. That is why we are selective about deploying them for search and rescue.'
When possible, such duties are handed off to agencies that use bloodhounds, like the department in Granville. However, in life-threatening situations, such as a missing child, the K-9s will be deployed.
Edo's training and acquisition were made possible in large part thanks to the West Virginia Law Enforcement Police K-9 Fund, a nonprofit created about eight years ago. Besides others in the community of Morgantown, Palmer has been a big part in this nonprofit.
Based in Morgantown, the fund helps departments across West Virginia. Agencies apply for grants with the fund, and many departments in the state have benefited from the support.
'They have probably helped us get all of our last several dogs,' Palmer said. 'It is a vital resource for agencies that might not otherwise have the budget to fund a K-9 unit.'
With five weeks of training to go, France and Edo are making great progress. While there is still plenty to learn, they have already developed skills and a bound that is essential for field success.
'He has picked up everything so fast,' France said. 'We're learning together, and I think we are going to make a really good team.'