K9s key to work by local law enforcers

The recent death of Walla Walla Sheriff’s Deputy K9 Gudy has increased efforts to spread awareness and raise money for the four-legged officers.

But how and why are some of these furry deputies and officers in the field?  

In Walla Walla, the K9 pairing only goes back 35 years — 36 if research is included.

Retired Walla Walla County sheriff’s Deputy Jim Romine said around 1982 he noticed on TV the dogs assisting Benton County sheriff’s deputies. It piqued his interest, he said, so he began researching adding pooches to his agency. Of course, he said he considered what neighboring counties’ programs like Benton had instituted.

“I became good friends with their handler,” Romine said, adding he also knew of Yakima County Sheriff’s Office’s K9s.

He also said he approached then-Sheriff Ken Klundt about the idea, and Klundt was supportive.

In 1983, the office began fundraising for K9s, he said, and he got his first partner, a German shepherd named Bremo, that November. The pup was a German import, he added, brought stateside by a California company specializing in K9 programs.

That was before the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Foundation existed, which now raises money for K9s, DARE and other programs. Because of that, Romine said Benton County Sheriff’s deputies brought their dogs over for a community event to raise awareness, and donation cans were placed in stores. The effort brought in about $10,000 for Bremo, his training, equipment and more, he said.

Now, the pooches and their expenses run $30,000, Sheriff’s Foundation President Wendi Kregger said. The foundation, which began in 2011, has a restricted fund for the K9 program, she said, and they’re always raising money.

But with Gudy’s untimely death, she said the foundation wasn’t prepared to buy another dog, as it only has $10,000 in the coffer. However, efforts are underway to gather money, such as a drive at Hot Mama’s Espresso, she said.

The coffee shop has a jar on the counter, where people can donate in memory of Gudy. People also can go to the foundation’s website, www.ww-sf.org to donate by debit/credit card. or mail donations to WWSF, 1644 Plaza Way, PMB #609, Walla Walla, Wash., 99362.

Having K9s is important, Kregger and Romine said, because of their tremendous deterrent factor when police encounter suspects.

“You don’t know what you prevented, you just know you prevented it,” Kregger said.

“The deterrent factor and surrender factor is pretty big,” Romine said, adding that having K9s reduces the amount of time needed to search a building.

“Literally, my physical altercations with suspects decreased dramatically,” Romine said. “They (suspects) knew if they touched me they would get bit.”

Doing police work isn’t really work for the dogs, Romine said.

“It’s just a game for them,” he said.

Walla Walla police Officer Gunner Fulmer said K9 Pick, a black Labrador from Burlington, Wash., loves her game. The 3-year-old dog, the department’s fourth narcotic detection dog, is trained to find meth, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy, Fulmer said.

Fulmer’s counterpart WWPD K9 team is Officer Travis Goodwin and Farel, a Belgian Malinois trained for dangerous situations, searches, and being on the SWAT team.

Pick and Fulmer have been partners for almost a year, he said, as he began working with her before he had to put retired K9 Rev, a 12-year-old German shepherd, to sleep. The dog’s health was declining, he said.

“It’s hard on these dogs,” Fulmer said, referring to the larger breeds getting in and out of vehicles. Jumping and landing takes a toll on their hips, he said. Because of that, handlers try to limit the jumping, he said. Rev, or Reverend von Gies, had problems with a disk and got to the point he wasn’t able to feel his back paws.

“He was dragging his back feet,” he said.

Dr. Bret Smith, of the Animal Clinic of Walla Walla, takes care of all Walla Walla County’s K9s, Fulmer said, and comes to any location most times of day. If he’s unavailable, Fulmer said another clinic doctor helps, which is crucial to keeping the pups in top shape.

Even though the work is hard, the K9s love it, Fulmer said, and are ready to work the moment they step out of their specially-built vehicle. K9 unit vehicles must have compartments, he said, with vents, fan, and a sensor alerting their handler if the temperature gets to 85 degrees. When that happens, the windows roll down, the fan starts and the handler receives a notification on their phone to check on their pup.

When Pick’s door opens for any occasion, she immediately starts looking for drugs, he said, because she knows if she finds them she gets her treat — a rolled towel secured with two rubber bands.

“She’s all about work,” Fulmer said.

She and Fulmer are certified by the state and the Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dog Association (PNWK9), he said. The latter, which isn’t required for K9s, he said, is more stringent, with double-blind testing, or testing without a monitor. The tests are video taped, and dice are thrown to determine where, or if, drugs will be placed in the three zones: autos, luggage, and hotel rooms. Before all of that, K9s and handlers must have 200 hours of training under their belt, he said. And, twice monthly, regional K9 units including Walla Walla, Tri-Cities, Baker City and others, must train together for eight hours.

Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ashley Daschofsky said the time and training with K9 Murphy, a 5-year-old German shepherd, is hard.

“But when you get to take your dog to work, it’s worth it,” Daschofsky said.

Sheriff-elect Mark Crider said he wasn’t sure when K9 Murphy’s new counterpart will arrive, but that the office needs another dog. He said the breed of dog, handler, and other decisions would be directed to current handlers (and maybe the dogs), as well as the foundation.

“We need to ask them,” Crider said. “They know all about it.”