Copper of the San Benito Police Department K-9 unit is seen with his handler, Sergeant Mario Perea. (SBPD photo)
By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
The San Benito Police Department, on Friday, November 30, announced the retirement of their K-9 officer, “Copper,” who had been with the force for 10 years.
Copper assisted the department as well as other law enforcement agencies in numerous drug operations, said Internal Affairs Detective Rogelio Banda, Jr. Banda said, “He was a very effective dog, but he’s almost 12 years old. In dog years, he’s due for retirement.”
Assistant Operations Chief Michael Galvan explained that a K-9 is considered a police officer and rides in the same vehicle with its handler. Galvan said, “In most departments, the dog is considered to have a higher rank than the handler. We always want to make sure the dog is the boss,” Galvan said, laughing, but pointed out the fact the dog is always treated with utmost consideration.
Copper, a Belgian Malimar, has been placed with a family who the department believes will offer him best living conditions.
Sergeant Mario Perea, the department K-9 handler, is in Corpus Christi training with the department’s new K-9 that should be out on patrol soon.
Copper’s replacement is a German Shepherd named Query (pronounced, Chur-ey.) Query hails from Czechoslovakia. Galvan said it is common for police dogs to come from overseas. He said, “These dogs come from Europe, where there are all kinds of (animal) farms.”
Galvan said the best dogs are brought over to the states. “Once the dogs are here, they go through another series of tests where the best of the best are selected.” Since dog personalities vary, Galvan stressed the importance of matching a dog with its handler. He said, “Bonding happens, so there’s not a personality conflict between the trainer and handler.”
Perea, who was recently promoted to sergeant, must conduct K-9 duties and sergeant patrol duties, said Galvan. A K-9 handler is responsible for attending to their dog’s medical and feeding needs, providing proper play time, and continued training.
As a former K-9 handler himself, the assistant operations chief said trainers must learn “everything having to do with dogs, from their sensory/olfactory sensors to their body temperatures, how they run, case laws pertaining to K-9s and all the dos and don’ts pertaining to handling dogs, training the dogs and keeping them safe.” Galvan said, “We have to give the dog the best of everything.”
Read this story in the Dec. 9 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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