The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

‘Ace-ing’ Youth Police Academy




Officer Richard Clark talks to the Lebanon Police Department's Youth Police Academy.DALLUS WHITFIELD

Officer Richard Clark talks to the Lebanon Police Department’s Youth Police Academy.DALLUS WHITFIELD

The Lebanon Police Department (LPD) welcomed 39 students this week for the summer installment of Youth Police Academy at the Jimmy Floyd Family Center.

The program started out with a bang – or rather, a bark – on Monday. Youth Police Academy Instructor and LPD Public Information Officer PJ Hardy introduced students to K9 Officer Richard Clark and his partner, Ace.

Clark, a former high school teacher, said that in the world of law enforcement there are different niche areas an officer can pursue.

“Once I saw the dogs, I knew that it was mine. K9 has been a dream of mine for a while,” he said.

Clark gave a brief history of the 4-year-old Belgian Malinois. Ace was bred in Mexico, he said.

As Hardy pointed out, law enforcement officers often use Belgian Malinois or German Shepherd breeds because of their “high drive.”

“They are working breeds historically,” Hardy explained. “They have that drive, and that’s why they are selected.”

Ace is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who works with the Lebanon Police Department.DALLUS WHITFIELD

Ace is a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois who works with the Lebanon Police Department.DALLUS WHITFIELD

The life of a service animal is much different than that of a household pet. These dogs are highly trained for a variety of tasks, including detecting drugs and bombs, tracking people and attacking, when necessary.

“We don’t let the general public handle any of our dogs. That’s highly dangerous. We don’t want our dogs used to that,” Hardy said. “When it is time to go to work, they go to work. We can’t have a situation where we pull up to a school to investigate a bomb threat, and the dog thinks he’s there to be petted on by the children.”

Kids were able to see Ace outside of the Floyd Center and, judging by his happy face and playful nature, it is hard to imagine such a being could be a weapon.

Clark advised kids to never touch a police dog or any dog they are not familiar with. He said any dog could bite.

Clark said he and Ace have gone through two weeks of the four-week training course.

“It is a big game of hide and seek for him,” he said of trips to the fairgrounds where Ace must use his sense of smell to locate objects.

“The K9 process is unique,” Hardy added. “Imagine you walk into the kitchen, and your mom is making chicken noodle soup. You just smell the soup, but a dog can smell the chicken, the noodles, the basil, the broth. They have a very strong sense of smell.”

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