Drug-sniffing K-9 to patrol PB area

PINE BLUFF — Officials with the Jefferson County sheriff’s office said they hope their newest deputy will give drug dealers and other lawbreakers a serious case of a cold sweat once he begins patrolling the streets later this summer.

Andor - a specially trained 2-year-old Belgian Malinois that can detect even the faintest odors of marijuana, cocaine, heroine and methamphetamine - represents a return of the department’s K-9 unit after a nearly year-long hiatus.

In 2011, the department retired Duak, a Belgian Malinois, which is a breed similar to a German shepherd, after five years of service.

That same year, Prins, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, was put to sleep after a veterinarian found he had inoperable cancer.

Prins had been the No. 1 police K-9 dog in Arkansas in National Narcotic Detector Dog Association competitions and had ranked No. 11 nationally in 2007.

The department had no more dogs left.

Jefferson County Sheriff Gerald Robinson called Andor - who was born in Europe, where he received his initial training - a valuable addition to his department.

“This will allow us to make Jefferson County a safer place,” Robinson said.

“Obviously, the more drugs we can take off the streets, the better.”

Robinson said that Andor and his partner/handler Deputy Courtney Kelly will continue their training at the Von Klein Stein Working Dogs school in Sherwood beginning Aug. 6.

There, Andor will be taught to respond to verbal commands in Hungarian.

After training, Andor and Kelly will hit the streets of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Andor,” Kelly said. “He is a special dog with a lot of talent. It’s a lot of fun, too.”

Pine Bluff resident Wanda Bateman provided the $8,000needed to purchase Andor. She said that she wanted to give back to local law enforcement because they have helped her through the years.

“I own a lot of rental property in town, and anytime I need them, they are there,”Bateman said.

During a public event at the Jefferson County Courthouse designed to introduce Andor to the community, Kelly held a bright green ball in his hand and bounced it on the courthouse floor as Andor’s deep brown eyes followed the ball’s movement. Andor jerked the leash, and Kelly led the muscular animal over to the ball.

Andor quickly snatched it up with his mouth and held it there for the remainder of the event. The ball is used as a reward for Andor as part of his training.

Robinson said his goal is to have two K-9 deputies so that “we can remain steadfast in drug interdiction in this community. These dogs are a valuable part of any department.”