Barking Up the Right Tree
Christina Hamlett
October 12, 2006
You really should have stopped when my partner told you to,” he’d like to tell the bad guys that he helps to catch. His opinions, however, are aptly translated by his best buddy, Pasadena Police Officer Tom Brown, one of two handlers in the department’s K-9 unit. So, too, were his canine comments candidly captured in an exclusive interview recently at police headquarters.
Q: So tell us something about yourself.
A: Well, I’m a Czech Shepherd and I’ve worked here for 4-½ years. My partner, Tom, has been here for 19-½. In dog years, that’s quite a lot!
Q: Are you originally from Pasadena?
A: No, I was born in the Czech Republic and received my early Schutzhund training in bite work, obedience and tracking by a lady in Germany. When I was still very young, I was shipped to a trainer named Dave Reaver at a place called Adlerhorst International in Riverside, California. Shortly thereafter, I met Tom and we’ve been working together ever since.
Q: When did you first know you wanted a career in law enforcement?
A: It was probably just the environment I grew up in. I was born to a mama dog who had good bloodlines and was having her first litter of puppies. We were the “A” list, so to speak, and had the best genes for working hard and protecting people.
Q: Are any of your siblings police dogs?
A: Two of them, actually. My brother Axel worked for the Torrance Police Department and retired about a year and a half ago. My other brother, Adam, went to Cypress P.D. and retired three months ago with a kidney failure problem.
Q: Are you in touch with them fairly often?
A: (deep sigh) They never write. They never call. Thank goodness my human stays on top of these things for me.
Q: Who were your canine role models when you were growing up?
A: Well, in the really early days we lived in a rural, woodsy neighborhood that didn’t get cable so I didn’t hear about icons like Rin Tin Tin or Lassie. Some of the elders, though, used to tell us young pups that dogs have always made important history and saved lives. Did you know that Attila the Hun used mastiffs in his campaigns? Frederick the Great recruited Russian dogs to be secret messengers. Napoleon made them sentries at the gates of Alexandria, Egypt. Some of our ancestors were even with Teddy Roosevelt and were used as scouts in the Cuban jungles. And, of course, our paws have always been up for war dogs who help keep our troops out of harm’s way by alerting them to danger and sniffing for bombs.
Q: So did you pick Tom or did Tom pick you?
A: I thought he looked like good partner material so I did my best to distinguish myself when he came to my school. Every police department has different reasons they need dogs. In Pasadena, for instance, they wanted someone who was cross-trained in patrol procedures, apprehension and narcotics detection. Tom was looking for a dog with good “prey drive” (chasing down baddies) and “play drive” (sniffing out dope). I think he also wanted someone with a nice personality around kids since he knew that sometimes we’d be going out and doing demonstrations at schools. On the flip side, some of my buddies who joined the L.A. Sheriff’s Department are only used for prey drive and work with the SWAT team. I admire what they do but I really prefer to have variety. It makes going to work more fun. I am also bilingual which allows me to respond to commands as well as understand lady reporters.
Q: Tom said you have a good story about the Chief of Police.
A: Oh I do! Chief Melekian is very big on the K-9 program and especially likes shepherds. He was once a dog handler himself and his dog, Pascha, was the one who found the Westside Rapist . This same dog also won the Medal of Valor for saving the Chief’s life. My friend, Bono, and I still talk about it in awe.
Q: And Bono is…?
A: Bono is a Belgian Malinois who works with Officer Donovan Jones. He’s a little younger than I am.
Q: Do the two of you like to hang out together?
A: Oh we’ll occasionally bark a few words and work the same cases but in separate territories. We’re both alpha personalities, you see, which could get troublesome for our human pals and distract us from doing our jobs.
Q: What’s a typical day like?
A: Well, I’m always the first one up—I live with Tom and his family—and I can’t wait for him to put on his uniform and take me out to the car. Did you notice that the side of the car has my name on it? I don’t have a license to drive, though, so Tom is in charge of that. He also runs the air conditioner for me since I get pretty toasty in this fur suit. We generally work from 4 in the afternoon until 2 in the morning, Sunday through Wednesday. We like to run errands first thing because lots of places we need to go—including the vet—close at 5 or 6. We also have to keep our car clean and that means going to the car wash. (I like to bark at the sprays of water!) Tom always monitors the radio and we do what’s called pro-active patrol to keep the community safe. We back up officers on traffic stops and narcotics searches. We average 15-20 deployments a month, some of which is helping the SWAT team. Sometimes we even get calls from UPS and FedEx about packages that look suspicious (I get to sniff all of ‘em!).
Q: What do you like the best about your job?
A: All of it! I feel like I’m just starting to peak in all areas. Did I mention that I turned 6 on August 4th? The last year has been the most enjoyable because I really like narcotics searches and being part of the overall action.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: I only eat Pedigree dog food which is very good for me. Sometimes people will donate IAMS bones which are kinda crunchy. I never eat table scraps (not that I haven’t thought of it!). My job is stressful enough that I don’t want to have to deal with tummy problems. Oh, and sometimes I nosh on jerky strips at the car wash. Those are pretty good, too.
Q: What’s Tom like to work with as a partner?
A: He’s my best bud. He always knows where I am and likewise. Pretty much inseparable. What can I say? I’d give my life for him. Truth be told, we actually spend more time together than he spends with his own family. How lucky can a dog possibly get?
Q: Have you ever been scared?
A: Caught off guard sometimes but no, never really freaked out.
Q: What do you like to do for fun?
A: I’m basically a slug. I like to sleep when I’m not working. I tried watching daytime talk shows for awhile but they’re pretty dumb. Sleep is good. It re-energizes you for whatever’s going to happen next. Oh, and when we’re out late at night, Tom sometimes takes me to schools and throws a ball for me. It’s good to run around and just be a regular dog.
Q: You mentioned that you live with Tom and his family. Are there any other animals in the house?
A: They have two cats. Does that count? I mostly yawn at them or show my big teeth and they go away. They know who’s in charge.
Q: If you weren’t a police dog, what would you be doing instead?
A: Well, I’m told I’m pretty good looking and am good at following direction. Maybe a feature movie or at least some commercials with super-models. I suppose if I’d stayed in the Czech Republic, I’d be a security dog or just used for breeding. Life is good. I like where I am.
Q: What kind of questions do people usually ask when they see you and Tom?
A: Hmmm…sometimes when we go to the car wash and people see us, they ask my person lots of silly questions. Like, for instance, they have a yappy poodle and they want Tom to give them advice on tips about how to train it as well as me. Sheesh! It’s a poodle, for Heavens sakes! Who do they think he is, the Dog Whisperer?
Q: What canine advice would you most like humans to listen to?
A: Well, we wish they’d stop when our person tells them to. I think they should also try to be nicer to each other. It would make our jobs a lot easier.
Print
Email
