- 
      - **  Home
      - **   About Us
      - **  Archives
      - **   Events
      - **  Publications

### Contact Us

To provide feedback on the Community Policing Dispatch, e-mail the editorial board at CPDispatch@usdoj.gov.

To obtain details on COPS Office programs, publications, and resources, contact the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770 or AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov

**U.S. Department of Justice**        Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 
www.cops.usdoj.gov

            - Home
            - About Us
            - Archives
            - Events
            - Publications
            - Contact Us

### **A Four-Legged Law Enforcement Pro Brings Kids, Cops, and the Community Closer in San Mateo**

 May 2020 | Volume 13 | Issue 5

*The COPS Office is pleased to feature the San Mateo (California)  Police Department as the May 2020 winner of the Community Policing in Action  Photo Contest. The winning photo shows San Mateo Officer Angelica McDaniel in a  local park with children petting her K9 partner Ajax.*

 “He’s a child magnet,” says San Mateo (California) Police Department (SMPD) Officer Angelica McDaniel about Ajax, one of three K9 dogs working for  the department. “Children are always attracted to him, asking to pet him. And  he’s more than happy to accommodate them, rolling over on his back for belly  rubs. Their parents are shocked that a police dog is so gentle with kids.”  

 Adults love Ajax too, notes McDaniel, who says that her K9  partner, a seven-year-old German Shepherd, is a bridge to personal interaction  in the community. An example she gives is of a young woman McDaniel met at one  of the many community events she and Ajax attend.  

 After bluntly stating that she didn’t like cops, the girl  asked if she could still pet the officer’s dog. A gentle rub behind Ajax’s ears  led to an earnest conversation that turned the young woman’s opinion of police  officers around.

 But gentle as Ajax is, he is also a law enforcement professional  who reacts in seconds to a threat or command. And McDaniel cautions the public  that they should always ask before trying to pet a police dog, and never  approach one in the middle of a crime scene.

 Like Hero and Henry, his two SMPD four-legged coworkers, he  has been trained to search for narcotics and weapons and to apprehend suspects.  To keep his and McDaniel’s skills sharp, they train together on a monthly  basis. Says McDaniel, “He’s been on the job for about six years, and is a real  pro.” Nobody can outrun or hide from him. 

 But Ajax knows without being told when the situation is play  and when it’s work. He quickly senses and responds to emotions. “If I’m talking  to a victim who is hysterical, he remains calm, but when there is a threat or  he is given the command to chase down a suspect, he can be ferocious.”  

 With their heightened senses, K9s can search for weapons and  drugs much better than their human partners. As an example of his ability to literally  sniff out problems, McDaniel describes the time he found 60 pounds of  methamphetamines in a car that had been stopped by another officer for a  traffic violation. “He worked his way around the vehicle, found the meth, then just stood there staring at the location, waiting for us to catch up to him.  It was amazing how fast he zeroed in on it.”

 In addition to detecting drugs and chasing down bad guys,  Ajax prevents crimes. To reduce the incidence of vehicle break-ins and theft in local parking lots, Officer McDaniel simply parks the squad car with Ajax in  it and the window rolled down. “When he barks, they get the message,” she says. 

 But as helpful as he is as a deterrent, detective, and first  responder, Ajax is the canine personification of SMPD’s community focused  approach to keeping San Mateo safe.   

 In describing  SMPD’s commitment to working collaboratively with the community, Jeanine Luna, Community Relations Officer and Neighborhood  Watch Coordinator, emphasizes  the importance of ongoing communication. “Our community members are our eyes  and ears for what is happening in our neighborhoods, and help us find ways to  reduce crime too.” 

 To maintain strong relationships, the department supports  several community programs. McDaniel and other officers also attend block  parties and other events in which they discuss local concerns. “We ask how we can  better serve them, and what they as citizens can do to help keep the community  safe,” says McDaniel.

 But connecting with local people on a daily basis is just as  important, or maybe even more so. And Ajax helps her do that every day. 

*Written with contributions from Officer Angelica McDaniel  and Officer Jeanine Luna of the  San Mateo Police Department (SMPD). Photo Courtesy of the SMPD, which submitted  this entry to the photo contest.*

 Faye Elkins          Senior Technical Writer

Tweet

**Subscribe to Email Updates**
To sign up for monthly updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your email address in the Subscribe box.

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

**Explore**
            - Home
            - About Us
            - Archives
            - Events
            - Publications
            - Contact Us

**
Connect With Us 
**
Want to stay connected with the COPS office?             Follow us on social media!
            - 
            - 
            - 
- 
- 
- 

             FOIA 

             No FEAR Act 

             Open Government 

             Plain Writing 

             USA.gov 

             Legal Policies and Disclaimers 

             Language Access Plan 

             DOJ Privacy Policy