Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2003
Source: Daily Mississippian (MS Edu)
Copyright: 2003 The Daily Mississippian
Contact:  http://www.thedmonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1345
Author: Camille Comer, DM Staff Writer

OXFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES NEW DRUG DOG

Faster than a fleeing criminal and able to leap six-foot walls in a single 
bound, - one of Oxford Police Department's leading officers is a 90-pound 
German Shepherd. Named after the Norse god of thunder, Thor and his 
handler, Lieutenant Alan Ivy, stay busy during their 12-hour shifts 
searching cars for narcotics, tracking criminals, searching buildings and 
visiting local schools.

Fortunately, Thor will soon have some help in fighting crime after the 
Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to finance the addition of another dog to 
the Oxford Police Department.

Oxford Police Chief Steve Bramlett told the board an individual had offered 
to purchase a narcotics dog for the department. The city was asked only to 
cover expenses for the dog's upkeep ? estimated to be $550 for the 
remainder of the 2003 fiscal year and $1000 per year afterwards. Oxford 
Mayor Richard Howorth expressed doubts that Oxford has a need for two drug 
dogs.

"I have some reservations, but if you, as a law-enforcement officer say we 
need him then I'll make a motion," Howorth said.

Bramlett said the dog is a needed addition to the department.

"We have plenty of drugs running around here," Bramlett said. "We've had a 
narcotics unit for 14 years. Alan's got to rest sometimes, and so does the 
dog."

Ivy has worked with Thor for more than two years and said he is amazed by 
the dog's abilities.

"I see the talent he has to aid regular police officers with his nose and 
instincts," Ivy said. "He can find someone in a 20 acre lot that it would 
take 30 officers to comb."

As of 2002, Thor is credited with 60 misdemeanor arrests and 15 to 20 
felony drug cases. Ivy said Thor, who can detect the scent of drugs 
including marijuana, cocaine, crack-cocaine, methanphetimines and heroin 
through almost any material, can indicate the presence of drugs from 
outside of a car and provide officers with probable cause for a search.

"Thor can be in and out of a car in 20 seconds where an officer would take 
15-30 minutes to search a car for drugs," Ivy said. "One time, he led me 
through six backyards to powder cocaine hidden under a house."

Thor is also talented in tracking fleeing criminals and missing persons. 
"He can tell the difference in odors," Ivy said. "Criminals give off a fear 
odor that Thor picks up on."

Recently, Ivy and Thor assisted with a domestic disturbance at South 
Meadows Apartments in which the suspect had fled the scene. Thor 
immediately tracked the man to the woods behind Saddle Creek.

"All I had to do was mention the dog, and the man came out with his hands 
up," Ivy said. "Ninety percent of Thor's job is deterrence."

The new addition to the K-9 unit, a 15-month Belgian Malinois named Rex, 
was originally purchased by OPD Sergeant Ray Sockwell with the purpose of 
training him as a narcotics dog. When Sockwell was called to active duty 
earlier this year, an anonymous donor purchased the dog and donated him to 
the Oxford Police Department.

"The city is getting the dog for basically nothing," said Bramlett. "The 
dog is worth close to $3500."

Sean Ayler, a sergeant in the housing department, will be Rex's handler. 
"My father is a police officer and does K-9 work," Ayler said. "I've been 
around it all my life and wanted to do it."

Ayler said the Belgian Malinois is increasing in popularity as a police dog.

"They've been used since World War II for guard and police work," Ayler 
said. "They were brought here about twenty years ago."

Ivy said police departments are starting to use the Malinois because of the 
difficulty of finding a healthy German Shepherd.

"It's hard to find any German Shepherd in America worth crap," Ivy said. 
"They're overbred, so a new breed will be top dog for awhile."

Ayler said he thinks the dog will be a great asset to Oxford.

"He's just a young dog starting out, but I've known the dog since he was a 
puppy, and I believe he'll make a good police dog," Ayler said. "He's got a 
great personality and temperament, and he's willing to learn.

"Southaven and Horn Lake have three to five dogs. Having two in Oxford 
would be an asset to our department so if one is out of town, we still have 
that option."

Ivy said he has no doubts that Rex will be put to good use.

"Two dogs can stay real busy in this town," Ivy said. "How many DUI arrests 
do you think we have in Oxford? Out of the DUI arrests,many are dope arrests."

Rex will be more specialized than Thor, performing only narcotics searches 
and eventually tracking.

"He'll be as much a community relations tool as a narcotics dog," Ayler 
said. "The public housing officers walk through the projects, and now the 
dog will go with them. He'll be a big hit with the kids."

Ivy and Ayler will perform the majority of Rex's training and expect Rex to 
be ready for work in less than six months. Ayler and Rex will then be 
required to go to the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy in Southaven 
for certification.

"They hide different drugs and you have to go find them and how well you do 
is whether or not you get certified," Ayler said.
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