Gainesville Police officers will head to North Carolina in two weeks to recruit new four-legged deputies.
The Gainesville Police Department K-9 Unit is on the lookout for two additions to its squad. Old age is starting to take a toll on Redd, 8, and Justice, 7, the two oldest European Shepherds in the unit.
After the Gainesville City Commission approved funding to GPD to buy the dogs, the officers began their search. The commission gave GPD $15,000 to buy the canines.
"These dogs are essentially sworn-in officers," said Commissioner Jeanna Mastrodicasa. "We want to do whatever we can to support the police department."
Sgt. John Franklin, supervisor of the K-9 Unit, said a popular vendor in North Carolina is going to Germany on Wednesday to bring back young German Shepherds, which are identical to European Shepherds. Franklin hopes to purchase two promising pups.
The cost of an untrained German Shepherd used for law enforcement ranges from $6,500 to $8,000, he said. Though expensive, shepherds in Europe are known for their strength.
"The main ingredient when we look for dogs is their play drive," he said. "If they want to play a lot, then we know they will be good to train."
Once a dog is picked, it is paired with a handler. The two must go through 400 hours of training before they are certified and able to start patrolling.
During the first two weeks, the handler and the dog focus on bonding and obedience training. Then rigorous training begins where the dogs work on following scents in different environments, Franklin said.
Officer Jeffrey Kerkau, 31, has been waiting to get his canine partner since mid-December when he was chosen to be a handler.
In order for an officer to be a handler, he or she must have at least two years of experience as a police officer and be in tip-top physical condition, Franklin said.
"My career goal was to be a handler," Kerkau said. "You get to go where all the action is."
The K-9 Unit, which consists of six teams of handlers and dogs, deals with everything from chasing suspects to sniffing out narcotics.
Kerkau said he and his girlfriend, whom he lives with, are looking forward to having the shepherd in their home. The two want to name the dog Arkham, the name of a fictional city in a story they read online.
"I just have to make sure I establish myself as the alpha dog," he said. "That way he knows who's boss."
A German Shepherd police dog, Apollo, is led by Marion County Sheriff's Office Deputy Greg Combs. Apollo sniffs out narcotics for his yearly certification requirements.
