MAULDIN POLICE GET NEW CANINE

MAULDIN -- The newest member of the Mauldin Police Department is only 2
years old, takes commands in Dutch and prefers playing with a piece of PVC
pipe to eating doughnuts.

And Chief John Davidson swears this rookie cop who walks on all fours can
do the work of three conventional officers.

"Rex the Flash," a muscular Belgian Malinois who looks a lot like a German
Shepherd, joined the force May 10 after completing 16 weeks of professional
canine training at Lynnwoods Kennels Inc. in Fremont, Ohio. Now he's ready
for the streets -- trained in narcotics detection, tracking and fugitive
apprehension.

"We feel like he is a tremendous addition to our patrol force," Davidson
said. "He is a great dog -- one of the most even tempered that I've ever
worked with. We're looking forward to years of working with him."

Rex hails originally from Holland. He represents an investment of about
$11,000 -- $5,000 from BJ's Wholesale Club and Milk-bone, $1,000 from the
Greenville Kennel Club and $4,000 from the police department's drug
forfeiture money.

"He's under a lot of stress right now," his handler, Patrolman Kale
Jeffries, said. "He had to adjust to the United States and then to the move
here. But he is an excellent dog. He already knows when it is time to work,
and when it is time to relax."

Rex had already been training for 10 weeks when the 29-year-old Jeffries
arrived in Fremont, Ohio, for 350 hours of preparation, instruction and
practice.

Now, it is the sole responsibility of Jeffries to handle the highly
intelligent and attentive creature who, by the genetic makeup of his breed,
excels in performance activities and thrives on work.

By nature, Rex is observant and somewhat reserved with strangers. He is
frequently in motion, often moving in quick, light-footed, seemingly
tireless circles and has an ongoing need for something to do. That's one of
the reasons that Jeffries said his wife, Ashlee, wasn't exactly thrilled to
learn the dog was coming to live with them.

"She was a little pessimistic at first," Jeffries admits. But she has come
around, he says. And the couple's daughter, Kaylee, has a new best friend.

Meanwhile back at the station, Jeffries and Rex are spending lots of nights
practicing for the minute when duty does call.

And when Rex finds a hidden stash of marijuana or successfully tracks a
scent -- a special reward comes his way -- his own piece of PVC pipe.

And some quality play time with Jeffries.