The St. Louis Park Police Department has added a new member to its team, K9 Officer Rolo, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix, who has officially taken an oath to serve and protect. The ceremonial police officer oath of office was given by Mayor Nadia Mohamed during the June 2 St. Louis Park City Council meeting, reinforcing the department's commitment to safety and innovation within the community's law enforcement, as reported by the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Hailing from Slovakia, Rolo partnered with Officer Joseph LeFevere, recently completed a rigorous 12-week training academy. Together, they have honed skills in obedience, tracking, explosive detection, and apprehension. According to a social media post from City of St. Louis Park, Rolo's "primary role with the department will be assisting with searches, tracking and explosives detection, and being a very good boy."
The introduction of K9 Maverick in 2023 marked the initiation of the St. Louis Park Police Department's K9 program. K9 officers like Maverick and Rolo bring a unique set of skills to the force, especially with their advanced olfactory capabilities. It's estimated that their sense of smell is "50 times better than humans at interpreting scent information," giving them a significant edge in pinpointing evidence, drugs, explosives, or people.
