Quinty, the UI police department’s newest canine officer, is only 1 1/2 years old – in human years, that is – but he’s already taking a bite out of crime.
During the four weeks that Quinty, also known as “Q,” has been on duty, he’s gone on about 20-30 calls with his handler, Officer Doug Beckman. While on a call about a suspicious package last week, Quinty sniffed out a 58-pound box of marijuana.
“That’s a pretty good start to his career,” said Beckman, who handled Quinty’s predecessor, Roxey, as well. Like Roxey, Quinty is a Belgian Malinois (pronounced Mal-in-WAH) and came to the U.S. from Holland. Belgian Malinois are working dogs known for being energetic, quick learners that excel at tracking and agility. Although their tan-and-black coats and body size resemble some German shepherds, Malinois generally are considered to be more alert, more agile and more responsive than German shepherds.
During her nine-year career, Roxey helped police find more than 400 pounds of narcotics and 17 handguns, and her work resulted in hundreds of arrests and the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars and numerous vehicles. The proceeds from Roxey’s work were enough to pay for the specially equipped squad car for the canine unit and for her successor, Quinty, who now accompanies Beckman to calls in the car during the evening shift.
Roxey, who was the department’s inaugural canine officer, retired from duty in August, and Beckman selected her replacement from a kennel in Indiana and underwent three weeks of training with him. Like Roxey, Quinty is trained to detect narcotics and to track human scent to help collar criminals.
Two years ago, while investigating a home invasion, Roxey fused two vertebrae and later broke the fuse. Despite medication, the “dog days” of summer with their high humidity levels exacerbated Roxey’s pain from the injury and made it difficult for her to work.
“Roxey would work through it as long as I would allow her to do so,” Beckman said. “It is now time for her to stay home and be pampered by my 2 1/2 –year-old daughter.” Beckman bought Roxey from the department so that she could continue living with him and his family, and now, with Quinty.
The UI police also have an explosives-detecting dog, Nala, that joined the department in September 2004. Nala, also a Belgian Malinois, is handled by Officer Troy Chew.
