APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – A two-year-old Black Lab is set to leave his pawprint as part of the Appleton Police Department, but not as a typical K9 officer.
The department welcomed Edison, a two-year-old Black Labrador retriever to provide emotional support and wellbeing to the community.
Edison will assist handler Sergeant Lori Duven during her work as a Victim Services Officer. Edison’s skills will be used to motivate and increase confidence with children, assist crime victims, and other vulnerable populations. He will also support victims and witnesses during interviews and be present during some court procedures.
“He is very different from the traditional police K9s you might see…The other patrol K9s are there to work hand-in-hand with the officers, enforcing laws, and really help with the safety of officers and safety aspect of the community,” Duven told WTAQ News. “[Edison’s job], is more of the empowerment of the community and working with victims, working with children, and giving them peace of mind.”
Edison has already begun his work, as Sergeant Duven has brought him in to several elementary schools and special education classrooms.
“The impact even with those students so far has been just outstanding,” Duven said. “I think we’re going to see that it’s something that we wish we would’ve been able to do a long time ago.”
Edison knows more than forty different commands, and can retrieve things like a box of tissues or even open up drawers.
“He can pick up pieces of puzzles and help a child put a puzzle together, do maybe a cleanup exercise, he can rest his head along their lap to help with that relaxation for a person,” Duven said. “We can take those commands that he knows, and then we can add different things to them to make up new commands.”
Edison comes from Canine Companions in Ohio. The process to become a facility dog takes two years of daily, specialized training – which can cost upwards of $50,000. He was provided to the department at no cost, but Appleton Police will pay for typical dog-related services like veterinary visits and food.
