Mitchell, K9 Rush do scent-sational work
When Montgomery County Deputy Rick Mitchell talks about his K9 partner, Rush, there’s a twinkle in his eyes and pride in his voice. Partners for six years, Mitchell and Rush have a bond that’s difficult to find.
“To put it plain and simple, he’s just like one of my children,” Mitchell said.
Rush, a 7-year-old German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois mix, weighs roughly 90 pounds. He is certified in patrol, tracking, evidence, apprehension and narcotics detection.
“When the uniform is on and we are in the vehicle, he is all business. He loves his job and gets very excited,” Mitchell described. “He wants to work and is a very good dog. He is a very valuable tool for us.”
Mitchell explained Rush’s reward for a job well done is his Kong ball. The duo have had countless exciting moments, but one that’s more memorable is when they were looking for a subject with several felony warrants.
“As we approached the house, the suspect saw one of us and took off on foot. We knew he ran a general location, but Rush located him hiding under a car. We wouldn’t have found him otherwise,” Mitchell recalled. “Another was one of Rush’s first drug busts, where he located one single gram of meth. To some that seems very insignificant, but for him to locate that small of an amount was great.”
K9s are used in law enforcement mainly due to their sensitive sense of smell, as well as their dedication, agility, hearing and sight.
Depending on the breed or type a dog’s sense of smell is around 10,000 - 100,000 times better than a human being. Dogs possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses compared to about six million in ours, and the part of their brains that analyzes and processes scents is roughly 40 times greater than ours.
Mitchell explained that while a human may walk into a kitchen and smell bread baking, a dog can smell the individual components of the bread, such as flour, sugar, oil and salt.
Being a K9 handler means Mitchell needs to ensure Rush has exercise breaks, potty breaks and water during each shift. On top of that, K9 handers are required to have more than 16 hours of training each month. During training, Mitchell said the dogs are put in situations that sometimes push the boundaries. Training is often done with other K9 handlers in adjoining counties.
“It’s nothing but setting up scenarios – evidence recovery, narcotics, tracking, apprehension, obedience, control; we don’t just train for what’s on the street, we do real work scenarios,” Mitchell said. “Never once is the call the same, so we have to train for anything; everything. We make the scenarios as tough as we can, constantly testing the dogs’ boundaries and abilities.”
Certifications for K9s take place annually. In early October, and Rush were not only recertified, but received second place in patrol work through Heart of America Police Dog Association.
“This job wouldn’t be the same without Rush,” Mitchell said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I feel very lucky I’m able to do it.”
He added it’s overwhelming at times to have such a supportive community and sheriff’s department backing them.
“A K9 is very essential; it’s like having an extra officer,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Jon Spunaugle. “There is a lot of extra responsibilities, liabilities, and duties that go along with being a K9 officer. We are fortunate to have K9 Rush and Deputy Mitchell.”
“K9 Rush and Deputy Mitchell are a very vital resource in the world of law enforcement,” said Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy. “They provide an invaluable and exemplary service to all of the communities, not on in Montgomery County, but surrounding communities as well. Their services come in the most crucial moment when every second counts.”
When off duty, Rush resides with Mitchell and his family and is able to “just be a dog.”