PUTTING SOME TEETH IN THE LAW

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - When a canine visitor stood center stage at
Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School in Arlington Heights this week,
even the most precocious youngsters didn't dare misbehave.

"This dog bites with a pressure of 1,000 to 1,500 pounds per
square-inch--it would feel like a car tire rolling over your arm,"
warned trainer Alex Rothacker, the owner of T.O.P.S. Kennels in Grayslake.

Of course, the handsome German shepherd called Grimm has been trained
to attack only "bad guys" who cross the path of the Buffalo Grove
Police Department's Canine Unit.

As the loyal sidekick to police officer Dean Schulz, Grimm has visited
dozens of schools, performing a hair-raising routine featuring his
talents for sniffing out illegal drugs and tracking criminals.

Grimm mesmerizes his audience by ripping apart sofa cushions to find
chemicals that smell like heroin and crack cocaine.

"The kids just love to see what we can teach these dogs to do," said
Schulz.

Perhaps Rothacker, who plays the "bad guy," has the most dangerous
role. Slipping into a protective suit and shrouding his arm in a
shield, he taunts Grimm.

When Schulz takes a pretend tumble and falls to the ground,
Rothacker's arm ends up planted firmly between Grimm's jaws.

Grimm shows his gentle side, too, following silent commands and
showing he realizes Schulz is in charge.

"It was really amazing to see a dog as smart as Grimm," said Emily
Bates, 11, who confessed that her pooch, Mokee, is lovable but doesn't
listen as well.