K9 Officers Provide Security for U of A Campus and Comfort for Students

UAPD K9 Division

Leah is high energy

Orry meeting fans.

Orry and friends.

Leah ready for patrol.

Orry taking a break.

Photo Submitted

UAPD K9 patrol at Walton Arena.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – If someone finds a suspicious package on the University of Arkansas campus, the UA Police Department officer called to check it out will have four legs, fur, a highly trained nose and answer to the name of either Leah, Dingo, Orry or Oakley.

These are the officers of the UAPD K9 Division, working with their handlers: Sgt. Jeff Shetlar with Leah, Cpl. David Nguyen with Dingo, Cpl. Chris Krodell with Orry, and Ptl. Wesley Copelin with Oakley.

Three of the four K9 officers – Leah, Orry and Oakley – are trained to sniff out explosives. Before each Razorback football or basketball game on campus they are responsible for sweeping Reynolds Razorback Stadium or Walton Arena to be sure the buildings are safe. Leah and Orry are also used on patrol during the games with their handlers, providing extra security.

Dingo specializes in finding drugs, but is also used for patrol on game days.

The UAPD’s K9 Division was started in 2010 specifically to provide this kind of security service. In fact, the first two dogs, since retired, were purchased and donated by the Athletics Department. The division grew when the UAPD added Dingo, and then bought Leah and Orry to replace the retired dogs. Sgt. Shetlar, who leads the division, donated Oakley to UAPD last year.

“I had a friend who told me he knew of a dog who would make a great police dog,” said Shetlar. “I hear that a lot, but I checked her out, and worked with her for a while – and he was right. She took to the training very quickly. I bought her and gave her to the department. She’s working out very well.”

The tie between the K9 division and the Athletics Department is still strong. The department pays UAPD for the division’s work at games, makes the Tyson Indoor Track building available for weekly training exercises, and helps out in other ways as well.

“It’s a great relationship,” said Shetlar. “They are extremely helpful. Just one example – they give us an unending supply of used tennis balls. The dogs love those balls, and anyone who has a big dog knows – those balls don’t last long. We are the envy of every K9 unit in the state.”

Each of the K9 officers has a distinct personality – which, of course, is also true for each UAPD officer.

Officer Dingo

Dingo is an eight-year-old German shepherd, and he has been with the division for 6 years. He’s trained for dual duty: regular patrol on campus with his handler and to find drugs. He’s all business when he’s working, but when Cpl. Nguyen gives him the cue to relax he becomes a big, friendly dog, one of the students’ favorites.

Officer Orry

Orry also has a reputation as a “friendly one.” He’s a five-year old German shepherd and joined the division three years ago. He is also trained for dual duty: to detect explosives as well as help out on patrol. It’s never a good idea to approach a K9 uninvited, but when Orry is on a break he’s loves the attention he gets from “fans” of all ages.

Officer Leah

Leah is also five years old. She’s a Dutch shepherd and joined the UAPD about the same time as Orry. She is a particularly high energy dog and loves to play when she isn’t working. She’s not as easy to approach when she’s not working, but she doesn’t mind people petting her once they’ve been properly introduced.

Officer Oakley

Oakley is the rookie of the team. She’s a two-year old Labrador retriever and has been with the UAPD for one year. She is trained to search for and find explosives, not for patrol, so she has less interaction with people on campus.

All four K9 officers are certified and train every week with their handlers. Orry and Leah are not just certified to work on campus – they have also gone through FBI and U.S. Marshal’s Service training. They’ve been called many times to assist on federal operations. They’re also available to assist law enforcement anywhere in Arkansas – and have – because they are two of only seven “bomb dogs” in the state.

Back on campus Orry, Leah and Dingo are familiar to the tens of thousands of Razorback fans who see them on patrol outside the stadium or arena during home football and basketball games.

They are also regularly seen on campus, on patrol with their handlers, adding another level of security for students, faculty and staff. They frequently attend the crime prevention talks presented by UAPD officers, where they generally steal the show. And, roughly twice a year, the K9 division officers are called on for one more special duty – Orry and Dingo in particular.

“In the weeks before final exams in December and April we get calls from stressed out students,” Shetlar explained. “They ask if we can bring Orry or Dingo by, just to pet them. We’re always happy to provide some Dog Therapy when we can. And it always seems to help.”

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.