Post by Kelley on Feb 7, 2005 14:26:12 GMT 9.5
Manors retires drug dog
In 11 years, Rocky aided in 600 arrests
By Shannon O'Boye
Staff Writer
Posted February 6 2005
When one of the most productive members of the Wilton Manors Police Department retired recently, he didn't walk away with a hefty pension or a gold watch. But that's OK -- all he ever wanted was his tennis ball.
Rocky, the department's 65-pound Belgian malinois, was one of the first passive drug dogs in the state, meaning when he smelled drugs he simply sat down rather than scratch and bark like crazy.
After Rocky joined the force in 1993, other Broward County departments noted his success and tried to emulate it. Today, there are more than 80 passive drug dogs in the county, according to Rocky's handler, Officer Oscar Gonzalez.
"It didn't hurt that on week one, Rocky found $26,000" in drug money, said Ted Daus, a drug-trafficking unit prosecutor. "People in places like Coral Springs and Sunrise were saying if he can find $26,000 in Wilton Manors, what can Rocky do for me?"
During his 11-year career, Rocky discovered about about 45 pounds of cocaine; 65 pounds of marijuana; 2 kilos of heroine; and $4 million in cash, Gonzalez said. Rocky's work led to more than 600 arrests.
Gonzalez retired the dog on Dec. 31, but at the City Commission meeting where he was honored last month, Gonzalez said Rocky's nose is still incredible and his puppy streak is still alive.
"His reward is his tennis ball," Gonzalez said. "He goes bonkers for the tennis ball. His teeth will still chatter after all these years."
Sgt. Shawn Chadwick said the officers used to hang a tennis ball from the ceiling in the police station so they could watch Rocky leap to reach it.
"That dog would sky," Chadwick said. "On the days he couldn't get it, he would get so mad."
Daus said the dog's simple nature is what makes him such a good tool.
"They have no incentive to lie," Daus said. "They just do what they're taught to do."
Gonzalez pitched the idea of bringing a passive drug dog to Wilton Manors back in the early 1990s because he had been trained to use them in the Air Force.
Defense attorneys often tried to argue that a police officer needed probable cause before bringing in a dog to search a car or a person, but just last month the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that police dogs can sniff the outside of a car after a lawful traffic stop.
Gonzalez said that's all the access Rocky needs.
"As long as the odor is there, he'll be able to sniff it," Gonzalez said.
About a year ago, Gonzalez walked Rocky around the outside of five houses in Hollywood where investigators suspected people were growing marijuana. Rocky smelled drugs in all of them, enabling the police to get search warrants for the houses. He also gave Gonzalez a signal on a SUV that was parked outside one of the houses. Inside, police found five safes filled with $2.4 million.
Since Rocky was replaced by a dog named Rasta, his days are much less intense. Mostly, he hangs out at Gonzalez's home in Plantation and plays with Gonzalez's son and twin babies.
"Rocky's got the chillin' life," Gonzalez's wife, Julie, said. "He relaxes a lot, eats, sleeps. Relaxes a lot, eats, sleeps."
In 11 years, Rocky aided in 600 arrests
By Shannon O'Boye
Staff Writer
Posted February 6 2005
When one of the most productive members of the Wilton Manors Police Department retired recently, he didn't walk away with a hefty pension or a gold watch. But that's OK -- all he ever wanted was his tennis ball.
Rocky, the department's 65-pound Belgian malinois, was one of the first passive drug dogs in the state, meaning when he smelled drugs he simply sat down rather than scratch and bark like crazy.
After Rocky joined the force in 1993, other Broward County departments noted his success and tried to emulate it. Today, there are more than 80 passive drug dogs in the county, according to Rocky's handler, Officer Oscar Gonzalez.
"It didn't hurt that on week one, Rocky found $26,000" in drug money, said Ted Daus, a drug-trafficking unit prosecutor. "People in places like Coral Springs and Sunrise were saying if he can find $26,000 in Wilton Manors, what can Rocky do for me?"
During his 11-year career, Rocky discovered about about 45 pounds of cocaine; 65 pounds of marijuana; 2 kilos of heroine; and $4 million in cash, Gonzalez said. Rocky's work led to more than 600 arrests.
Gonzalez retired the dog on Dec. 31, but at the City Commission meeting where he was honored last month, Gonzalez said Rocky's nose is still incredible and his puppy streak is still alive.
"His reward is his tennis ball," Gonzalez said. "He goes bonkers for the tennis ball. His teeth will still chatter after all these years."
Sgt. Shawn Chadwick said the officers used to hang a tennis ball from the ceiling in the police station so they could watch Rocky leap to reach it.
"That dog would sky," Chadwick said. "On the days he couldn't get it, he would get so mad."
Daus said the dog's simple nature is what makes him such a good tool.
"They have no incentive to lie," Daus said. "They just do what they're taught to do."
Gonzalez pitched the idea of bringing a passive drug dog to Wilton Manors back in the early 1990s because he had been trained to use them in the Air Force.
Defense attorneys often tried to argue that a police officer needed probable cause before bringing in a dog to search a car or a person, but just last month the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that police dogs can sniff the outside of a car after a lawful traffic stop.
Gonzalez said that's all the access Rocky needs.
"As long as the odor is there, he'll be able to sniff it," Gonzalez said.
About a year ago, Gonzalez walked Rocky around the outside of five houses in Hollywood where investigators suspected people were growing marijuana. Rocky smelled drugs in all of them, enabling the police to get search warrants for the houses. He also gave Gonzalez a signal on a SUV that was parked outside one of the houses. Inside, police found five safes filled with $2.4 million.
Since Rocky was replaced by a dog named Rasta, his days are much less intense. Mostly, he hangs out at Gonzalez's home in Plantation and plays with Gonzalez's son and twin babies.
"Rocky's got the chillin' life," Gonzalez's wife, Julie, said. "He relaxes a lot, eats, sleeps. Relaxes a lot, eats, sleeps."