New K-9 officer fitting in nicely at DPS

Levi, K-9 officer, greets Kinsey Kaiser outside of the Standard Democrat while Public Safety Officer Frankie Adams, K-9 handler for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, looks on. Levi is the third K-9 officer to work with Adams. (Scott Welton, Staff)

SIKESTON -- Every police officer hopes to be paired up with a partner they like. Public Safety Officer Frankie Adams, K-9 handler for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, has ended up with three in a row.

The first K-9 officer Adams worked with, Syr, died at about 6 years old due to an intestinal disorder, according to Adams.

Adams' second four-footed partner, Eros, is the K-9 best remembered by the community as he had been the DPS "drug dog" for nearly a decade.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol usually retires their canine officers before they hit age 8, Adams said, but Eros spent that many years on duty.

"Eros was almost 10 when he retired; old age got him," Adams said.

But Adams' latest partner, Levi, is making friends fast.

"This is another good one," Adams said. "I'm lucky: I get dogs with good attitudes. Levi would much rather be petted than bark at people he meets in the community."

Adams received Levi as his new partner March 4.

For the rest of this article and more, see Sunday's Standard Democrat or log on to the electronic edition.