ST. LOUIS — A new furry and energetic member has joined the St. Charles County Police Department, who will have a special job in keeping people safe at Citypark SC stadium.
Spirit, a female German shorthaired pointer, made her debut at Citypark SC stadium Monday morning where officials announced that she is not only the newest member of the St. Charles County Police Department’s K9 unit, but will work as a detection dog during home matches and events.
Citpark SC and Purina partnered together in covering Spirit’s adoption, training, feeding and care costs over the course of her career with the St. Charles County Police Department.
Spirit was born in Hungary in June 2021 and received certification from the North American Police Work Dog Association in explosives detection and explosives odor tracking, according to a press release.
When Spirit is not lending a helping paw at CityPark SC, she will be keeping the St. Charles County community safe alongside her handler Officer Jeff Spain. He received specialized training and certification through the FBI as a hazardous device technician, according to the press release.
Together, Spirit and Spain attended detection training at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. Spirit had six weeks of training with staff at Shallow Creek and an additional six weeks with Officer Spain.
He told Spectrum News that the focus at the stadium will be checking critical areas for explosives and firearms.
“She’s fun to work with; she’s very energetic,” Spain said.
Detection dogs are trained to recognize targeted scents who alert their handlers to them, according to the press release.
“We are grateful to St. Louis City SC and Purina for the gift of Spirit,” St. Charles County Police Chief Kurt Frisz said in the press release.
“It is a unique partnership and one that we know will bring added security and safety to not only soccer fans, but to the residents of St. Charles Count. It is through the generosity of organizations like the soccer club and Purina that we are able to further our efforts to combat crime in the region.”