If an armed robbery is reported, the dog can pick up the scent and track the suspect, according to Doug Beckman, the U. of I. police officer selected to be the dog's handler and caretaker. I've seen the benefits from the use of the dogs to track suspects in felony cases and I've seen them used to find lost children or even adults who have walked away from nursing homes. Beckman was among several officers interviewed by a selection committee charged with choosing who should be the dog's handler. This summer, he will be introduced to the dog at a training center in Indiana, and spend two weeks training with the dog. Beckman will meet several dogs at first, and then the trainer will select a dog that Beckman handles well, and that suits the university's needs, he said.
Possible breeds are Labrador, German shepherd, Dutch shepherd and Belgian malinois.
The dog will be alongside Beckman on his shift, and be in and out of buildings around campus with him. Beckman and the dog will be on call 24-hours a day for searches and tracking when needed. Beckman and his wife will share their home with the dog. The Beckmans already have two dogs, a German shepherd mix and a husky-Dalmatian mix. The police dog will require a stronger commitment from them because he will have to be maintained in good physical condition and training.