By Sara StrongThe Rock County Sheriff?s Office believes its canine unit has paid for itself in the 1 1/2 years since Tarzan has joined the force.Deputy Ken Baker presented an update on the German shepherd?s effect on the department. Tarzan is a 67-pound, all-purpose police dog that helps the department sniff out drugs and criminals.Tarzan also prevents crime by his large, and sometimes loudly barking, presence.?The canine is mostly used for his nose,? Baker said.He said it is rare that a dog is needed for apprehension, but the threat is sometimes enough during a pursuit or resisting arrest.The dog has also been used to find people at accident scenes or others who weren?t crime suspects. Rock County Sheriff Mike Winkels said the dog costs the department about $9,000 a year.Initial purchase and training cost for the dog was about $30,000. That cost was deferred by money from Pipestone veterinarian Gordon Spronk, who pled guilty to making false statements to a federally-insured bank. As part of his plea agreement, he paid $500,000 to area government bodies, and part of Rock County?s portion went toward the dog.Baker said, ?I think he?s worth twice as much as we paid.?Baker is Tarzan?s owner, and partner on the job. He said, ?Wherever I go, people ask how the dog is doing. It?s made our office more approachable.?Baker said he enjoys the public relations work and demonstrations he does with Tarzan because they make him closer to the community and feel good about his work.Part of his continuing training is on civil rights and when Tarzan can search a person or vehicle. Results of Tarzan?s timeBaker and Tarzan have gone out on 120 calls for service during the 1 1/2 years the canine unit has been in Rock County.Those calls have resulted in various arrests, ranging from petty misdemeanors to felonies.When the discussions on getting a dog were started at county and city meetings, the main concern was that a dog help with the drug problem.Baker said Tarzan has resulted in additional drug arrests. For example, the Sheriff?s Office made 12 narcotics finds/arrests in 2002. So far in 2003, the canine unit has been personally responsible for 14 arrests/finds. Not included in those 14 are additional finds or arrests that were made by other members of the department who said a canine unit was available for search. In many of those cases, suspects confessed before Baker and Tarzan were called.They have also assisted in about 90 criminal captures, and have helped with various crowd control situations where Baker said Tarzan had a more significant presence than a couple deputies alone.Baker and Winkels said violence against officers and fleeing suspects are increasing in the county. With Tarzan, they said, officers get some additional needed help.Winkels said, ?If Tarzan helps prevent one Workman?s Comp. claim a year, he?s worth it.?
