Sheriff's canine is ace performer

Deputy Davis and Ike. photo by Jim Cornelius Sisters is used to Outlaws excelling in statewide athletic competition. Last month a law dog turned in a stellar performance against the toughest field the state could muster.

A Deschutes County Sheriff's Office K-9 team of "Ike " and Deputy Chad Davis took fourth place overall in the second annual Police K-9 Trials held in Central Oregon on May 23.

The eight-year-old German shepherd was put through his paces in events testing his agility; skill at suspect apprehension and area search; handler protection and vehicle pursuit (a simulated vehicle chase in which the suspect bails out and flees on foot with the dog in pursuit).

The dogs were also rated for speed, an event in which Ike "was not even close because he's the old man," Deputy Davis said.

But Ike made up for any lack of speed with his skills in the other areas, making the top 20 percent among 20 dogs representing police agencies from all over the state.

"We had a great time," Deputy Davis said. "It's just an excuse to get out and show the public what our dogs can do."

According to Davis, the trials are an important public relations outreach, dismantling misconceptions and stereotypes the public may harbor about police dogs.

While the dogs can certainly be intimidating, they are trained to a high pitch, focused only on identified suspects under particular conditions and their actions are under complete control.