New police dogs take on unique job in Fairfax County

Indy, Sully, Jack, Lenny and Holmes have been on the job with police in Fairfax County, Virginia, since February. As the newest members of the force, they spent their first official public appearance on Tuesday rolling around on the floor, sniffing hands and licking the faces of small children.

The dogs are part of a new initiative, said Jay Carson, director of Incident Support Services. The five dogs 鈥� two chocolate Labradors, a yellow Lab and two golden retrievers 鈥� will be trained for two distinct jobs.

Three of the dogs are in training to become service companions for retired, disabled first responders. Carson said they鈥檒l be placed with first responders from anywhere in the U.S., wherever the need is greatest.

Two other dogs will stay on in Fairfax County and will be deployed as part of a team when there鈥檚 an incident that鈥檚 especially stressful.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l respond to critical incidents as therapy dogs,鈥� Carson said.

<p>Right now, the dogs are getting basic training, Carson added. But they鈥檙e already having a positive effect among the officers, who find they鈥檙e great stress-relievers.</p>
<p>鈥淚 even joke around that they鈥檙e like library books 鈥� our guys want to check them out, take off with them for the day, take them down to their floors, and they鈥檒l watch the dog all day,鈥� Carson said. 鈥淪ome of them are sending selfies with the dogs.鈥�</p>
<p>Out in the field, when officers and detectives are handling an especially stressful or horrific event, the dogs are sent out.</p>
<p>鈥淭he officers stop what they鈥檙e doing. It grounds them a little bit; they鈥檙e able to interact with the dog and then they go back to work,鈥� Carson said.</p>

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Sully is one of the new service dogs in training at the Fairfax County Police Department. He’s seen here on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. (草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

Right now, the dogs are getting basic training, Carson added. But they鈥檙e already having a positive effect among the officers, who find they鈥檙e great stress-relievers.

鈥淚 even joke around that they鈥檙e like library books 鈥� our guys want to check them out, take off with them for the day, take them down to their floors, and they鈥檒l watch the dog all day,鈥� Carson said. 鈥淪ome of them are sending selfies with the dogs.鈥�

Out in the field, when officers and detectives are handling an especially stressful or horrific event, the dogs are sent out.

鈥淭he officers stop what they鈥檙e doing. It grounds them a little bit; they鈥檙e able to interact with the dog and then they go back to work,鈥� Carson said.

<p>The dogs are also going to be available to members of the community on the scene of incidents as well, he added. 鈥淓specially if we have a case that involves children, or people who are emotionally upset after a horrific event,鈥� Carson said.</p>

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Here’s Lenny with her new friends on the floor of the police department’s Public Safety HQ in Fairfax, Virginia, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. (草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

The dogs are also going to be available to members of the community on the scene of incidents as well, he added. 鈥淓specially if we have a case that involves children, or people who are emotionally upset after a horrific event,鈥� Carson said.

<p>Among those taking on a dog for training is police Chief Ed Roessler. He stood as his dog, a chocolate Lab named Indy, sat at his feet.</p>
<p>Roessler said Indy would eventually be placed with a disabled first responder.</p>
<p>He explained some of the skills she鈥檒l have to master: 鈥淗ow to go up and down an escalator, how to ride in an elevator, how to turn a light on and off, how to retrieve her leash.鈥�</p>
<p>And, perhaps, the most important skill: how to provide comfort for someone suffering post-traumatic stress, Roessler said.</p>
<p>鈥淪he provides a lot of love and joy,鈥� he added. 鈥淪he鈥檚 just fun and gives love.鈥�</p>

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From left to right: Indy, Lenny and Jack, with their handlers. On the left is police Chief Ed Roessler, who is going to be training Indy round-the-clock. (草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

Among those taking on a dog for training is police Chief Ed Roessler. He stood as his dog, a chocolate Lab named Indy, sat at his feet.

Roessler said Indy would eventually be placed with a disabled first responder.

He explained some of the skills she鈥檒l have to master: 鈥淗ow to go up and down an escalator, how to ride in an elevator, how to turn a light on and off, how to retrieve her leash.鈥�

And, perhaps, the most important skill: how to provide comfort for someone suffering post-traumatic stress, Roessler said.

鈥淪he provides a lot of love and joy,鈥� he added. 鈥淪he鈥檚 just fun and gives love.鈥�

<p>Another element of the program, Roessler said, is an effort to bring attention to mental health and suicide prevention.</p>
<p>鈥淲e respond to hundreds of suicides here in Fairfax County,鈥� Roessler said.</p>
<p>He feels strongly about the need to eliminate the stigma that comes with asking for help when it鈥檚 needed 鈥� for first responders and the general public. The message, he said is, 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to not be OK 鈥� we will help you.鈥�</p>

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Here’s Sully, taking in all the love. He’s still in training, but he has nailed the calming presence requirement. (草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

Another element of the program, Roessler said, is an effort to bring attention to mental health and suicide prevention.

鈥淲e respond to hundreds of suicides here in Fairfax County,鈥� Roessler said.

He feels strongly about the need to eliminate the stigma that comes with asking for help when it鈥檚 needed 鈥� for first responders and the general public. The message, he said is, 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to not be OK 鈥� we will help you.鈥�

<p>The event Tuesday morning was provided so that the department could publicize the program, and so that members of the community could meet the dogs.</p>

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Here’s Sully, before the meet-and-greet on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019. (草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

The event Tuesday morning was provided so that the department could publicize the program, and so that members of the community could meet the dogs.

<p>Brennan Welton, a 12-year-old from Fairfax, was thrilled to see the dogs. His favorite? Sully. 鈥淗e鈥檚 energetic,鈥� Welton said. 鈥淎nd I just like dogs!鈥�</p>

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And 鈥� he’s up! Ready to make new friends. (草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

Brennan Welton, a 12-year-old from Fairfax, was thrilled to see the dogs. His favorite? Sully. 鈥淗e鈥檚 energetic,鈥� Welton said. 鈥淎nd I just like dogs!鈥�

<p>Holmes, one of the golden retrievers, was getting a lot of extra attention from Marian, Landon and Mitchell Spore. Their great-aunt, Jill Milloy, is a clinical psychologist with Fairfax County and is training Holmes.</p>
<p>Holmes is very talented, said 7-year-old Marian Spore. 鈥淲hen you have a treat, he sits, and then you say, 鈥楽ay hello,鈥� and he鈥檒l shake your hand.鈥�</p>
<p>Landon Spore, 9, said, 鈥淗e鈥檚 really lovable, and he鈥檚 trained really well. He doesn鈥檛 bite or anything. He鈥檚 a really good boy.鈥�</p>
<p>Older brother Mitchell Spore said Holmes is 鈥渧ery sweet and kind,鈥� and after a bad day, it鈥檚 nice to spend time with Holmes. 鈥淗e鈥檚 sweet and fluffy, and makes you calm,鈥� the 11-year-old said.</p>

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Lenny is also in training with the other specialized service dogs in the Fairfax County Police Department. (草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

Holmes, one of the golden retrievers, was getting a lot of extra attention from Marian, Landon and Mitchell Spore. Their great-aunt, Jill Milloy, is a clinical psychologist with Fairfax County and is training Holmes.

Holmes is very talented, said 7-year-old Marian Spore. 鈥淲hen you have a treat, he sits, and then you say, 鈥楽ay hello,鈥� and he鈥檒l shake your hand.鈥�

Landon Spore, 9, said, 鈥淗e鈥檚 really lovable, and he鈥檚 trained really well. He doesn鈥檛 bite or anything. He鈥檚 a really good boy.鈥�

Older brother Mitchell Spore said Holmes is 鈥渧ery sweet and kind,鈥� and after a bad day, it鈥檚 nice to spend time with Holmes. 鈥淗e鈥檚 sweet and fluffy, and makes you calm,鈥� the 11-year-old said.

(草莓传媒/Kate Ryan)

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Jack, a service dog in training has clearly nailed the concept of a meet-and-greet
— Kate Ryan (@KateRyan草莓传媒)

Kate Ryan

As a member of the award-winning 草莓传媒草莓传媒, Kate is focused on state and local government. Her focus has always been on how decisions made in a council chamber or state house affect your house. She's also covered breaking news, education and more.

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