A dog-gone good officer

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WINTERSVILLE - When Patrolman Art Fowler of the Wintersville Police Department saw an opportunity to add a new member to the police force, he took it.

The officer, who also educates elementary pupils in the Indian Creek Local School District through the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, approached members of Village Council in May and asked for approval for the police department to purchase a new dog to add to the one dog already working in the K-9 unit.

"I've always wanted a dog. I saw an opportunity to put a proposal together for the chief (Edward P. Laman) to add a dog, and he approved it," Fowler said.

Council approved the $5,000 purchase of the 1-year-old Belgian Malinois from Tri-State Canine Services in Warren on May 7. Fowler picked up the dog named Ali on May 30.

"Ali is an addition to the police department and our canine program," Fowler said, adding the police department has had the German Shepherd Luck, pronounced "Luke," on the force for a few years. Luck is handled by Sgt. Shawn Gegick.

"Now we're going to have a dog out 12 hours a day, every day of the week," Fowler said. "It provides that much safety and goes that much further to help combat the drugs in our community. It's not a big problem in Wintersville, but drugs are present."

Fowler noted he and Ali went through 90 hours of training for two weeks at the end of May before Ali was introduced to the job.

"We had our bonding time where he actually came to work with me like he does now, but he wasn't put to work," Fowler said. "We started training on June 5 and were certified on June 23." Fowler noted he and Ali had to travel to several locations for the duration of their training so the dog could be introduced to different situations.

"Every day was different, but on a typical day, he would learn how to track people or different articles," Fowler said, adding Ali is certified to do evidence, narcotics and people searches.

The training took place in Warren, Niles, Edinburg, the University of Pennsylvania and New Castle, Pa.

"We went to these locations so Ali could do different kinds of searches," Fowler said. "In New Castle, they had abandoned buildings we used. At the university he was able to search dorm rooms and lockers. We were among other dogs from different agencies."

A major part of the training also included teaching Ali to follow all of Fowler's commands.

"Obedience was a big part," Fowler said. "He's not on a leash. He's an off-lead dog. He listens to my commands," Fowler said. "The main thing is, you want the dog to listen when you give him commands so that it keeps him safe."

Fowler said the main difference in obedience training in police work and domestic dogs is just the language.

"We use German words to voice commands for search, lie down and stop," Fowler said.

He noted that although German Shepherds are still widely used in police work, Belgian Malinois are becoming more popular. "Luck has been an asset to the department. Without him, we wouldn't have been able to add another dog and do the work we do," Fowler said. "But the Malinois is becoming more popular. They are lighter, more agile and tend to have a longer workability."

In addition to patrolling the area with Fowler, Ali also will be present in the schools when Fowler teaches his D.A.R.E. courses this fall.

"(Ali) loves to work," Fowler said, adding that to Ali, it's more like play. "When I'm on daylight, come 5:30 a.m., he's at the gate, ready to go. Even when he's at home, he wants to go to work. And when he's not at work, he's just a little lover."

Fowler noted the benefits of having two working police dogs soon will be visible in the village.

"Once people start to realize there are two working dogs in Wintersville, it will be that much more of a return," Fowler said. "We're trying to be proactive. We don't have a big drug problem, but it's here. As a department and a village, we want to be proactive instead of reactive."

Fowler added, "I just want to thank the chief for approving this and being so supportive in all of this and for making my dream come true."

(Lauttamus may be contacted at bsadler@heraldstaronline.com.)