AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: AUGUST 2017 23 Young therapy dog Blue backs The Blue 24-7-365 T he Appleton Po- lice Department in Wisconsin re- cently added a member to our nationally recognized Volunteer Pro- gram. “Blue”, a 12-week-old Golden Doodle, has been introduced to members of the Appleton Police Department during the past several weeks. He has a “rookie” status with the department; requiring training and certification, like all officers, before be- ing out on his own. If “Blue” passes all of his training, he should be “on duty” early next spring. Followinghistrainingand certification as a therapy dog in the Fox Valley Hu- mane Association (FVHA) Therapy Dog Program, “Blue” will be on-duty as the only known “station dog” in Wisconsin. What makes him unique from other therapy dogs is his primary purpose of improving the wellness of Appleton Police Depart- ment personnel. From the few visits “Blue” has made to the department, we expect him to freely roam the depart- ment, in search of treats or an occasional nap in the many dog beds sure to ap- pear around the building. “Blue” will occasionally be used as a therapy dog in the community, comforting victims, helping grieving children, assisting those with emotional or mental health conditions and visit- ing schools, libraries, and other community events. “All of our employees, sworn and civilian, are caring and compassionate people; subjected to see- ing and dealing with things no human should have to deal with,” noted Chief Thomas. “The daily stress and workload, gruesome crime scenes, autopsies, working with children who have been abused and ne- glected, while remaining constantly hypervigilant can be destructive.” “Dogs don’t rationalize. They don’t hold anything against a person. They don’t see the outside of a human but the inside of a human.” – Cesar Millan The Physical Benefits of Therapy Dogs and Cats Lowers blood pressure. Improves cardiovascular health. Releases calming endorphins (oxytocin). Lowers overall physical pain. The act of petting produces an automatic relax- ation response, which is believed to reduce the amount of medication needed by some people. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Blue. He’s a real sour puss. RISE ABOVE 360 24/7 SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. ON DEMAND. Skywatch provides the deployable, capable, integrated surveillance system required by today’s law enforcement professionals to monitor key events and locations. With a wide variety of sensors to choose from, Skywatch can be tailored to fit any environment or budget. In a world that requires vision and flexibility, accept no compromises. SEE HOW AT WWW.FLIR.COM/APB