Rookie cop has a nose for drug crimes

MORRISVILLE -- A different kind of cop now pounds the beat for this town's police department.

He showed up unshaven to be sworn in, barked his oath, sniffed his badge and fidgeted for photos.

But everyone let the behavior slide, knowing that what he lacks in poise, he makes up for in results.

"He's already paid for himself," said Police Chief Ira Jones.

Bruno, a $6,500 Belgian Malinois, was put to work in September.

Now he's awaiting his $700 bullet-proof doggie vest. He's already brought in $34,000 in drug money, the amount of cash that Bruno alerted officers was stowed in a car in Morrisville. The bills were dusted with narcotics - Bruno's specialty.

Trained in drug detection, tracking and apprehension, 2-year-old Bruno can sniff out heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

He also can track a suspect or missing person, chase and tackle a perp and take down anyone who attacks his partner, Officer Carl Rodrigues.

"We have a strict no-horseplay-with-me-at-work rule," Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues went through a 12-week K-9 unit course with the Durham Police Department and takes Bruno for weekly refresher sessions. "The biggest thing with him is everything ends with a positive reward," which usually comes in the form of a toy or a "bite reward," which involves Bruno chomping down on a padded sleeve, Rodrigues said. But only with permission.

"Everyone's a good person unless they're threatening or he's commanded otherwise," Rodrigues said.

Many of Bruno's commands are in Dutch, learned from his trainers in the Netherlands.

But whatever the language, Bruno understands that he's responsible for his partner's life.

"He has my back 100 percent of the time," said Rodrigues. "He's always there."

Rodrigues and Bruno are the fourth K-9 unit Morrisville's police department has deployed. The previous two canine cops were owned by the handlers, and left when their human counterparts relocated.

Bruno moved in with the Rodrigues family in August.

The duo's workdays include a few hours of training, in addition to a regular eight-hour shift. Bruno goes to calls with Rodrigues as well as "socialization" trips to schools, day cares and Sam's Club.

"He's with me 24-7, from morning to night," Rodrigues said. "That helps the bonding process."