K-9 OFFICER HEARS CALL

As Head Of Reserve Medical Unit, Vail, Dog, Taking Leave

Elizabeth Vail and her partner had pursued two aggravated burglary suspects
into the corner of a drug store last year when one of the men decided to
make a last run for freedom.

"When I pulled my flashlight and gun, the one guy froze and obeyed and the
other ran," the Knoxville Police officer said.

The suspect didn't make it far before Vail's partner apprehended him - with
her mouth.

Meta, an 8-year-old Dutch Shepherd, is one of Knoxville's finest and has
spent the past five years at Vail's side searching for drugs and assisting
in the occasional human search.

"She likes coke and marijuana," Vail said. "She can find them all."

In a few days, however, Meta will give up the flashing lights, high-speed
chases and 50-pound marijuana seizures for a life of fetching a tennis ball
and sniffing out new adventures with Vail's six other dogs.

Meta's retirement is partly because of the imminent departure of Vail, who
is set to leave for Camp Pendleton, Calif., with a Knoxville-based Marine
Reserve unit.

Vail is the commanding officer of a 25-person detachment of the 4th Medical
Battalion that was called to active duty last week and will depart
Wednesday for California.

A lieutenant commander, she is one of 18 Knoxville police officers who are
in the National Guard or Reserves who have the potential to be called to
active duty, according to police spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, seven officers have been called to active duty from
the Police Department. All have since returned safely, DeBusk said. A
Maryland native who moved to Knoxville 10 years ago to pursue a master's
degree at the University of Tennessee, Vail became the first female K9
officer when she partnered with Meta four years ago.

Now Meta stays with Vail 24 hours a day and has the distinction of being
the only pet in the house that actually works for a living.

"She just doesn't get paid," Vail joked.

On Monday, Vail and Meta joined about a dozen other law enforcement
officials and their dogs in East Knox County to hone the dogs' tracking skills.

Vail speaks to Meta in its native Dutch and also in English as the
black-and-gold-haired canine responds dutifully.

As a reward, Meta gets to prance through the sun-drenched field to retrieve
a worn tennis ball from the teeming weeds.

Vail's cousin agreed to care for Meta and her other pets during the
deployment, which is scheduled for 365 days but could last up to two years.

"However long they need us over there is how long we'll be there," Vail said.

The full-time crime fighter and part-time sailor recently learned that she
would most likely be reassigned a K9 upon her return.

Judging by Vail's combination of discipline and love and Meta's propensity
for sniffing out narcotics, that's bad news for Knoxville drug dealers.

"Both those men from that chase are serving time now," Vail said as she ran
her hand through Meta's fur.