K9 COP JARKO CHANGES DEPARTMENT

These are strange days at the Swansboro Police Department. Chief H.C.
Pugliese is speaking Dutch and Officer Jarko is busting criminals for a
chance to fetch Kong.

Kong is a hard rubber chew-toy, Officer Jarko is a highly trained police
dog and Pugliese is just trying to communicate with his new K9 patrolman.

Jarko (pronounced "Yarko") was born June 21, 2000, in the Netherlands. The
90-pound Belgian malinois reported for active duty with the Swansboro
Police Department Aug. 4 and has wasted little time in establishing himself
as a top cop.

Since his arrival, Jarko has played a significant role in 90 percent of the
department's 16 drug arrests, according to Pugliese. "A lot of drugs we
probably would have missed," he added.

The dog has assisted other police departments, through mutual aid
agreements, on 50 calls, ranging from drug searches to the capture of
fleeing felony suspects.

"The K9 has given a different look to our department. It's something this
area of the county hasn't ever seen," said Pugliese. "The dog has unlimited
potential. Time will prove what he can do."

Officer Carrol Vessell, Jarko's partner and handler, explained that the
Belgian malinois is one of the most effective breeds involved in police work.

"They look like German shepherds, but they are more intense - they have
more drive," she said. "These are not usually considered sit-at-home dogs."

Despite his professionalism while he's on the job, Jarko remains true to
his doggish nature. His favorite reward for a successful investigation is a
round of fetch with his Kong. He spends most of his days off consorting
with Bingo, his civilian next-door neighbor.

It was Vessell who made the proposal to initiate Swansboro's K9 Unit,
offering to pay for the dog, its training and housing out of her own pocket.

To date, Vessell has spent approximately $15,000, in addition to putting in
the 12 hours per week of supplementary training required by the contract
with Cross Creek Training Academy in Edgefield, S.C., Jarko's primary
training facility.

She also attended the academy to meet with Jarko for an intense, four-week
training period that started July 7.

"I think I lost 30 pounds," said Vessell, who worked during that period
with the dog and two trainers seven days a week, 10 hours a day on
tracking, drug-sniffing and patrol skills.

"Even in Swansboro, we needed a tool to fight crime," said Vessell of her
partner. "He can find a hidden suspect or a lost child. If he saves one
kid, the expenses will all be worthwhile. He'll be worth a million dollars
to some parent."

In addition to sniffing around vehicles at traffic stops, Jarko accompanies
Vessell on her nightly walking patrols of the downtown Swansboro business
area and outlying residential streets.

Several area businesses have already taken a liking to the K9 Unit concept.
Donations have included the lettering on Vessell's patrol car indicating
it's K9 Unit status. A fund drive has begun at a local restaurant to pay
for a bullet-proof vest.

"I love Jarko and I'm so glad he's part of the community," said Linda Camp,
manager of Capt. Charlie's Restaurant. "He's cleaning up the area of drugs
for our kids ... and I think he'd protect me, or anyone else, in a heartbeat."

"It's a positive image," said Pugliese. We've gotten a lot of positive
comments from the public."

Jarko doesn't work for hand-outs. The K9 cop earns 80 percent of the total
money value of the drugs he gets off the street. The money is reinvested
into the department's narcotics program.

In an attempt to offset some of the other costs incurred by Vessell,
Pugliese has requested an allocation from the Swansboro Board of
Commissioners of $1,250 for the remaining fiscal year.

He said that he hopes to see a line item included in the town's 2003-04
budget that will establish $1,500 to $2,000 in town support for the K9 program.

"I am going to do everything that I can to see that we get sufficient money
to help (Vessell) offset the costs," said Pugliese. "Not many individuals
would be willing to put out the time and expense that she has to get this
program off the ground."

In a letter to Swansboro commissioners, Larry Faison, town manager,
recommended that the board amend its current budget to allocate the $1,250
requested and, "to congratulate this officer (Vessell) for her extreme
unselfishness and dedication to the ideals of law enforcement and community
well-being."

For her part, Vessell said that she would have paid anything for the
opportunity to work with Jarko.

"It's the best of both worlds," she said. "I have a partner who I know will
defend me no matter what. He doesn't talk back, he does everything I tell
him and he doesn't ask for much in return for it all."

Not much but for a couple of runs at Kong and a pat on the head.