Meet Deputy Rocki, a three-year-old German Shepherd that is the newest member of the force and an important new tool at the disposal of the Fannin County Sheriff's Office.

"For all practical purposes," Fannin County Sheriff Moore says as he points to his new four-legged employee, "that dog is a deputy sheriff of Fannin County."

The new deputy is a versatile fellow, too. 

Rocki is trained to assist Fannin County law enforcement in two very important ways; of course, he will be used to sniff out drugs, but this dog is also trained to track missing persons. 

"There is not a county in the U.S. that doesn't have a drug problem," Sheriff Moore remarked.  "Our K-9 unit will help us locate narcotics.  Any time a school district calls us, we'll assist them."

Moore adds that Bonham Police Department will primarily work with Bonham ISD, while Fannin County Sheriff's Office will focus on being of service to the other school districts in the county.

The recent addition of a K-9 unit was made possible by a timely $9,000 grant.

"This was made possible thanks to Texoma Council of Governments and Allison Cardile, Bonham Housing Authority Director," Fannin County Sheriff Moore stated. 

Rocki is only half of the new K-9 unit, though.  The person who will work 24/7 with the German shepherd is Fannin County Deputy Lance Costa. 

Deputy Lance Costa and Rocki

 

"The K-9 handler must be dedicated to the dog," Sheriff Moore said.  "He is responsible for the daily care and health of the dog.  That's why Deputy Costa was chosen."

Rocki was purchased from the Farmersville Police Chief who happens to be a dog handler.   Deputy Costa was able to spend a little over two weeks working with the dog before the pair was sent to an intense, three-week training camp in Austin.

Deputy Costa says the young German shepherd is playful, just like any dog, but when the deputy puts on the uniform, Rocki "knows it's time to go to work."

Like any youngster, Rocki pouts and gets moody when he thinks he's being left out of the action. 

Deputy Costa had to learn to speak all of his important commands in German, because that was how Rocki was trained and that keeps communication primarily between to dog and handler.

While Rocki will protect his handler, Sheriff Moore stressed that this is not an attack dog and he has not been trained to be an attack dog.  In fact, the most important task this dog may ever have to do is locate a toddler that wandered off or find someone with dementia that is missing.  Tracking and narcotics interdictions are the two specialties Rocki has been taught. 

To prove how docile Rocki can be in a non-threatening environment, Fannin County Lieutenant Daryl Parker walked over and petted the dog. 

Lieutenant Daryl Parker gives Rocki a friendly pat.

Not to be outdone, Four Corners 4-H Reporter Daniella Rivera had a friendly visit with Rocki.

Daniella Rivera makes fast friends with Rocki.

In a demonstration at the Fannin County Sheriff's Office, though, Rocki proved he is willing to come to the rescue of his handler if needed.

...but this fellow attacked the dog's handler in a demonstration

(l-r) Fannin County Lieutenant Daryl Parker, Fannin County Deputy Lance Costa, Rocki and Fannin County Sheriff Kenneth Moore