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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 9:33 PM CDT
New cop ready to dog criminals

By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — Police officer Heath Thornton’s new partner is so eager for action that he could barely sit still for a photo Tuesday afternoon.

Being fidgety is not too surprising considering that Thornton’s new partner, Ivan, is a 14-month-old Dutch malinois.

“A malinois’ nature is to be full of energy,” Thornton explained.

Ivan started putting his energy to work last month as the Charleston Police Department’s newest canine alongside handler Thornton. They have joined the ranks with Sgt. Chad Reed and his German shepherd, Edo, marking the first time the department has had two canines at once.

Police Chief Mark Jenkins said he started thinking about a second canine unit not long after the department switched in October to having two 12-hour patrol shifts per day. He said two canines can provide backup for each other and ensure a dog is available on each shift.

Jenkins said Officer David Reed, brother of Chad Reed, offered to give the department a Dutch malinois puppy he had received from K-9 Essentials. He said the department already had a backup patrol car available that could be converted for canine use.

“We saved a considerable amount of expenses by not having to purchase a dog,” Jenkins said. “Everything just kind of fell into place.”

When Jenkins asked for canine handler applicants, Thornton was quick to apply. Thornton said he has been interested in canine handling ever since he saw the Mattoon Police Department’s canine in action while serving with that department’s Explorers youth program.

Thornton said he appreciates the loyalty a canine partner offers and the opportunity to connect with people in the community who like dogs.

Prior to being hired by the Charleston department in 2006, Thornton served two years as the canine handler for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department. Thornton handled narcotics searches and tracking with Sadie, a black lab that he later adopted.

“A dog can do so many things and free up so many officers, or take things further than a police officer can,” Thornton said, noting dogs’ keen senses. “I can do a lot of things in law enforcement if I have a dog.”

Once Ivan was determined to have police canine potential, Jenkins said the dog and his handler went through 10 weeks of narcotics and scent work. He said this was followed by four weeks of training to help apprehend criminal suspects.

Ivan and Thornton train with the Region 16 U.S. Police Canine Association and the Springfield Police Training Academy.

Thornton said Ivan has already used his strong sense of smell to locate narcotics in the field and is prepared to put the rest of his training to work.

“We are on the street and we are ready to do those things whenever duty calls,” Thornton said.

Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.

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Tree Hugger wrote on Aug 28, 2008 8:28 AM:

" I say turn him loose on the "suspected" dog fighter so he can see how it feels :P "

Mama says wrote on Aug 30, 2008 2:01 AM:

" Im with you Tree, hehe.
A good sidekick would be my 10 lb poodle and 5 lb yorkie who knows no fear. I have 20 lb cat, KUNGFU, who can box the ears off a dog and win a match. Maybe all places in a pen with suspected dogfighter be good match.
Buy vests for all the law enforcement in coles county with proceeds. "

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Officer Heath Thornton and K-9 Ivan pose at the Charleston Police and Fire Training facility in Charleston on Tuesday. Kevin Kilhoffer/Staff Photographer