BERKELEY WILL BE ADDING TWO NEW DOGS TO ITS POLICE FORCE

The Berkeley Police Department is welcoming two new members to its force:
two dogs that will help police officers patrol the streets.

One of the dogs, a two-year-old German shepherd named Diablo, is owned by
Berkeley officer Shane Stewart, who brought Diablo with him from the
Charlack Police Department.

Stewart gives Diablo commands in German so that no one can confuse the dog.
Diablo is so devoted to Shane that the dog will not even listen to Shane's
wife when Shane is present.

The other dog will accompany Police Officer Gary Eaves. Beginning this
week, Eaves will spend six weeks in training with his new partner at a
canine academy in Evansville, Ind. It is run by John Haller, formerly of
the Evansville Police Department and a nationally certified trainer.

The dogs will work 10-hour shifts with their human partners, says Police
Chief Robert Jenne. Berkeley will pay for training, veterinary care and
food, a total cost of about $2,000 a year for each dog.

Jenne said the police department would use the dogs primarily for drug
intervention. "They will be of great help because on a vehicle stop, if the
officer suspects drugs, the dog can search and sniff for the drugs," Jenne
said.

Jenne added that Berkeley and airport officials had made an agreement to
exchange dogs if ever needed. "Our dogs are primarily trained for drug
intervention, whereas the airport dogs are trained for bomb-sniffing and
are not aggressive," Jenne said. "But upon airport officials' requests,
Berkeley would supply the airport with our dogs, and airport officials said
they would supply us with bomb-sniffers if we would request it. It is a
win-win deal for everyone."

The council also approved a resolution appointing Joseph King as the city
manager. Council members said that King was selected for his qualifications
and experience as a city manager in Maplewood and Northwoods. King replaces
Lloyd Vester, who was Berkeley's acting city manager after Arbon Hairston
was voted out of the position last August. King is scheduled to begin his
position around the middle of this month.