Third canine officer added to Hurricane's police force

HURRICANE, W.Va. -- Hurricane Police added its third canine officer to its unit.

The new officer is Jake, a 1-and-a-half-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever from Texas that was acquired about one month ago. His training is in the beginning stages, and he will focus on narcotics, according to Sgt. Jason Moore.

He will join two other officers, Roman and Huck. Roman is a German Shepherd that has worked with Moore for approximately three years and specializes in bombs, dynamite, handguns and firearms as well as tracking and apprehending suspects. Huck, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, works primarily with Patrolman T.J. Dillon and specializes in narcotics to include marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines along with tracking and apprehension.

Moore said officers assigned to the K-9 unit are responsible for the dogs 24 hours a day, including maintaining their training, vet records/treatment, feeding, toileting and exercise. The dogs remain in department kennels when they are off duty and are not treated as house pets due to the nature of their jobs.

"We try to put the dogs in as many environments and realistic circumstances as possible," Dillon said.