Not only can the Austin Police Department take a bigger bite out of crime, it can bite more often.

Friday, March 02, 2001

Not only can the Austin Police Department take a bigger bite out of crime, it can bite more often.

Austin police now have two new canine units to join their efforts at protecting and serving the community.

Because one canine unit has retired and Officer Steve Wald and his partner, Maddie, remain on duty, the net gain is one team.

The department still suffers a two-legged officer shortage, but Police Chief Paul M. Philipp is pleased the canine units have joined local crime-fighting efforts.

"This is another tool for our police officers," Philipp said. "They can do more with more efficiency and greater safety and this means they will always continue to do a better job for the citizens of Austin."

Rocket was partnered with Patrolman Matt Holten. When Holten was promoted to lieutenant and made a shift commander, that meant he could no longer be a canine officer and his partner, Rocket, would be retired.

Philipp went to the Austin City Council for funding for the canine unit expenses and some funds were approved. Now, Philipp is exploring grants and the private sector for the remainder of the $8,500 in expenses.

The new canine units are in training and should be ready for field tests and certification in August.

The department’s first canine unit was partnered with Officer Kevin Royce years ago. Through the years, the department has enjoyed and utilized canine units in a variety of capacities, including Wald’s Maddie, a people-searching animal.

The soon-to-be-retired Rocket was a street dog utilized for apprehension of suspects and other police work. He will become Holten’s family dog.

The department’s canine officers are Rene Phan and Kurt Zehnder. Both will be paired with German shepherds, each between 18 months and 2 years old.

Phan’s dog is Joker and Zehnder’s dog is Kutter and they will be trained in suspect apprehension and narcotics detection.

According to Philipp, the dogs came to the United States from Czechoslovakia and were purchased from a kennel in North Carolina.

"Our two new canine units were two of nine dogs from the kennel in North Carolina, which were delivered to Minnesota," Philipp said. "Olmsted County got one and the city of St. Paul got four and two others went to other law enforcement agencies in the state."

Holten is the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift supervisor for the department.

Lt. John Mueller is the 3 to 11 p.m. shift supervisor and Lt. David Simonson is the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift supervisor.

Mueller will have Zehnder and Cutter on patrol during his shift and Simonson will have Phan and Joker.

The officers and their canine units will, of course, be available for duty at all times and also available to other departments needing Austin police assistance.

The Mower County Sheriff’s Department also has a canine unit paired with Deputy Jeff Ellis. That canine unit is trained in narcotics searches and suspect apprehension.

All the canine units that successfully complete their training and field tests become certified, which means their contributions to the investigation of a crime become acceptable evidence in the courts.

"The officers recognize the benefits to their work of the canine units and they are excited about seeing this evolution in police work occur and consider it a positive program," Philipp said.