Taking a bite out of crime: Portageville Police adds K-9 officer

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. - Portageville’s newest police officer has an impressive record. Certified in early January, he already has three narcotic arrests to his credit.

His thanks for his efforts is a good belly rub.

Baldur, a Belgian Malinois, is the department’s first K-9 officer. Matched with Portageville Police Sgt. Jeremy Green, the two began training together in December.

At first glance, Baldur acts like any other good-natured dog. He offers a bark and a tail wag to visitors, enjoys playing with his chew toys and loves to be petted.

But unlike most other dogs, Baldur is trained to sniff out narcotics and follow the trail of missing children. And Baldur’s bite is definitely worse than his bark. When given the command, the dog can apprehend a criminal, applying a bite with a force of 195 pounds of pressure per square inch.

According to Green, he and Police Chief Ronnie Adams Jr. began discussing the idea of adding a K-9 officer to the Department shortly after Green was hired in August. Adams made some inquiries and soon both a dog and the training were provided to the Police Department at no charge.

When the Department learned of the addition of a dog, they turned to local residents to name him. A Portageville woman suggested Baldur, the Norse god of justice

Green said his bond with Baldur developed quickly. He arrived at Dowdy Dogs in Troy, Mo., on a Monday afternoon and made his pick from the available dogs; training began the next day.

For six weeks, the two would work on tracking and apprehension. Together they would search buildings and outdoor sites. They would seek hidden articles, including narcotics.

Green said Baldur’s favorite activity was the bite training.

“He is a big dog for his breed and he bites really hard,” Green said. “The people who have worn the bite suits don’t like to be caught.”

Although now fully certified, Green and Baldur continue training daily. Green described the 90-pound Baldur as a high-energy dog, very athletic and very fast.

For Baldur training is just fun.

“He has special toy for everything. A toy for tracking, a toy for narcotics. Well, the bite work he doesn’t have a toy but when he knows he get to bite, he is very single-minded,” Green said.

Apparently criminals are aware of his bite.

According to Green, when the pair showed up with a U.S. marshal to serve a warrant, the presence of Baldur prompted the man to immediately surrender. While serving a felony warrant in Clarkton, a suspect climbed out of the attic rather than being pursued by Baldur.

“His presence is enough to make them give up. He hasn’t bitten anybody yet,” Green said.

Law enforcement agencies have requested the dog and his handler at traffic stops. Baldur has sniffed out drugs and helped officers find a “meth pipe” tossed from a moving vehicle.

“He has got a nose that is just amazing,” the officer said. “We’ve done tests with him and he has a nose that just won’t quit.”

As night shift supervisor, Green said he welcomes having Baldur along with him on patrol. As partners, they are there to protect each other.

When Baldur is not busy with police work, he is winning the public’s heart.

Green noted the three-year-old dog loves children and Baldur offered a bark in agreement.

The two went to the Portageville Elementary School, where every youngster who wanted had the opportunity to pet the dog. And he is a familiar sight to the servers at the local Sonic Drive-In, where he enjoys a Pup Cup.

Baldur often stops to visit local residents as well.

“Everybody loves him,” Green said. “Some people don’t want to pet him because they know he is a K-9. Some people are just scared of dogs but he is a very social dog.”

Both Green and his boss pointed out the addition of the dog on the Department’s roster did not cost local taxpayers anything. Adams noted community donations also have continued to help with costs.

The dog will prove to be an asset to the not only the community but the region, Adams added.

“The reason we were trying to get a dog is because of the drug problem we have here in town. This is just another way for us to show the citizens we are trying to put a stop to the drug problem here in Portageville,” Adams said. “Now we have the opportunity to work with both (New Madrid and Pemiscot) counties to help them prevent drug problems.”

With another bark, Baldur headed from Adam’s office toward the door. He was ready to go to work.

Green patted the dog before heading out and added, “He is an outstanding dog.

He is a big asset to this police department and we are happy to have him.”