DONATIONS LEAD TO K-9 UNIT

Cezar joins Ozark in anti-drug fight

An officer and his partner will be used in searches of cars, schools.
Drug users beware.

The newest member of the Ozark Police Department wants nothing more
than to sniff you out.

And if he finds illegal drugs in your house, car or school locker, he
gets a special treat: a doggy toy.

"Cezar" (pronounced say-zar) is an 18-month-old, 80-pound,
drug-sniffing German Shepherd who comprises one-half of Ozark's new
K-9 unit.

The other half is Cezar's handler, Cpl. Kevin Mayes, who was a K-9
unit officer with the Christian County Sheriff's Department before
joining the Ozark Police Department four years ago.

"He's going to be an asset to the department," Mayes said about the
dog. "It's another edge -- we're basically sharpening our sword."

Cezar joined the department at the beginning of March and was brought
to Ozark entirely by donated funds.

Between March and December of last year, the police department raised
nearly $14,000 for the dog, mostly from community businesses and
organizations.

A large chunk of that money came from an agreement between developer
Jack Isenberger and realtors Rick and Pam Gardner, who together
pledged to give $100 for every new house sold in the Ozark's Rolling
Prairie subdivision.

"It's hard to say why we did it," said Rick Gardner, who also serves
as an alderman for Ozark.

"We just like to give back to the community. They needed a drug dog,
and I knew from being on City Council that the city couldn't afford
it."

Donations also paid for Cezar's training and special equipment,
including a bullet- and stab-resistant vest and a $1,500 K-9 insert
that replaces the back seat of a patrol car.

Mayes said the most touching donation came from a little girl who
approached a female officer in a local grocery store.

"She asked if she knew the officer who was trying to get the dog, then
handed her two tightly rolled-up dollar bills," said Mayes. "We never
got her name."

Cezar is the first police dog to be owned by the city -- though not
the first dog on the force. Another K-9 was owned and used by Lt.
Susan Cole before it was retired.

She said having a K-9 in the department not only helps officers locate
illegal drugs, but also saves them time.

"For car stops, the Supreme Court has declared that an exterior sniff
is not a search, but a positive response from the dog could be
probable cause to investigate a car further," said Cole.

She added that in schools, a dog can check student lockers
quickly.

"And I really think it keeps kids from bringing drugs and
paraphernalia to school if they know (the dog is) going to come in
periodically for random checks," she said.

Mayes said Cezar is trained to detect marijuana, methamphetamine,
cocaine and heroin, and he'll soon be certified in identifying ecstasy.

Cezar is also trained to search buildings for criminals who could be
hiding from police.

Like many police dogs, he knows that when he finds what he's after,
he'll get a special reward.

"He'll get a certain toy, and that means he'll get a tug of war play
session and a lot of verbal praise," said Cole.

"These dogs always want to play -- they just want to go, go,
go."

Even though they live and play together, Mayes said his relationship
with Cezar is serious.

"Police dogs have such a hard work drive, it's hard to treat him as a
pet," said Mayes. "He is a partner. When he sees me in uniform, he
knows we're going to work."

Those who meet the pair in Ozark may not understand what Mayes is
saying to the dog.

Cezar was born and trained in the Czech Republic, where his trainers
spoke to him in German.

"He knows some English, but most of his commands are in German," said
Mayes, adding that it could be seen as a benefit.

"It does help, because the bad guys don't usually know German," said
Mayes, "but even if they did, he's not going to listen to them."