BELFAST — The atmosphere in the Belfast Police Department Friday afternoon was one of excited revelry, with officers congregating around their newest addition: K9 Dex.

Dex and handler Officer Travis Spencer were one of six teams to graduate from the Vassalboro K-9 Training Center. The duo were signed in and ready to work June 9, the same rainy afternoon their graduation ceremony took place.

While the weather on the actual day of graduation was less than ideal, the graduating class had much nicer weather when they took their official class picture May 27.

That photo was taken on a sunny day at the Bush compound in Kennebunkport.

“[The photo] happened right at Walker’s Point,” Spencer said, referring to the parcel of land the former President Bush summer home sits on.

Not to be outdone by the beauty or upcoming graduation, the highlight of the class picture was the moment Spencer got to meet and shake the hand of former President George H.W. Bush.

“It was amazing to meet him, he’s just such a respectful man,” Spencer said of the meeting. During the brief interaction the former president also had kind words to offer.

“He just said that he has a lot of respect for what [police officers] do,” he said.

Though the 14 week K9 training program can be a taxing one, filled with exercises that range from scent tracking to agility courses, Spencer said Dex never struggled to meet expectations.

“He had no difficulty with the program; ever since I got him he’s been spot on,” he said.

“Leaps and bounds ahead of the others,” another officer joked.

The training facility offers over 200 acres of available land to be used for practical training, along with agility/confidence building courses, and a 7,800 square foot training building.

While the the K9 certification course provides more than enough opportunities to practice the newly acquired skills, Spencer said Dex’s training often continues at home.

“We did a lot of training outside of the school, like obedience and ‘washer work’,” he said.

Spencer explained that when metal washers are sterile and a person touches them, their scent is left behind.

“For the most part, [the washers] only harbors the human odor,” Spencer explained. This makes the small metal circles perfect for tracking practice.

“The goal is to find every single [hidden] washer,” he added.

Still, it’s not all work for the German-Dutch Shepherd mix; his favored rewards include both treats and toys, including a tug toy Spencer said is one of Dex’s favorites.

The selection process for choosing a handler typically involves advertising the position, then interviewing interested applicants until the best match is selected. For K9 Dex however, Spencer was the only officer interested in taking on not only a new partner, but also a new member of his household.

Despite training at home, Dex’s downtime is generally fairly relaxed.

“A lot of the time he’s lounging, just being a dog,” Spencer said.

While Dex’s quest for certification may have come to a close, his training will continue throughout the duration of his law enforcement career. The newly minted K9 team will train once monthly, mostly as a refresher course to keep the four-legged graduates sharp.

With 14 weeks of training behind them, the new and dynamic duo are freshly certified and ready to serve. 

 Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com