Dargo, the new York County Sheriff's dog, is introduced as members of the band Live applaud. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- Paul Kuehnel)
Dargo, the newest member of the York County Sheriff's Office (Paul Kuehnel)
Dargo, the 75-pound German Shepherd puppy, glanced around the room at the York County Judicial Center on Wednesday morning, lounging on the floor, opening his mouth and letting his tongue roll out.
The 50 or so courthouse employees, along with representatives of all of the major local media outlets, were there for him, and it seemed as though he knew it.
No matter that there were three guys from multi-platinum-selling band Live standing nearby. Of course, without them, Dargo wouldn't have been there.
At the news conference, Sheriff Richard Keuerleber officially announced Dargo, a detection K-9, as the newest member of the office.
"Dargo's a service dog," Keuerleber said. "We felt there was a need to expand our K-9 division. We have a tracking dog, and Dargo's going to be a detection dog, responsible for the security of seven buildings."
Dargo, along with his handler, Lt. David Godfrey, will leave soon for a six-week training camp at Von der Haus Gill German Shepherds in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
Godfrey said Dargo will be trained in various scents, as well as searching buildings, vehicles and rooms. He'll learn how to detect items such as bombs, and will be on-call to municipalities, both in and outside of York County, Godfrey said.
The office's other dog, Lou, a bloodhound used by the York County Missing Child Task Force, was also at the news conference, with handler Sgt. Samuel Shipley. Lou added a howl whenever the crowd clapped for Dargo.
Dargo lives with Godfrey, and two quickly bonded, Godfrey said. And when Godfrey comes to work at the judicial center, he brings Dargo with him, keeping the dog in a small kennel nearby his desk.
"He's starting to catch on; he's a great dog, very well-mannered," Godfrey said. "He loves my daughter and my wife."
Godfrey said that Dargo's cost, $6,500, along with his training, was financed by Think Loud Development, a new business venture partially owned by three members of the York-based band Live.
From the left, members of band Live, Think Loud Develoment LLC, Chad Gracey, Chad Taylor and Patrick Dahlheimer with Lt. David Godfrey with Dargo shortly after he received his badge at the York County Judical Center Wednesday May 13, 2013. YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL (Paul Kuehnel)
The members - bassist Patrick Dahlheimer, drummer Chad Gracey and lead guitarist Chad Taylor - were at the news conference, along with Think Loud's CEO and founder, Bill Hynes.
Hynes said that Keuerleber approached him at a public event and pitched the idea about acquiring a K-9.
"He just had a concern on his face," Hynes said. "Myself and Chad Taylor were at the event, and we said, anything we can do to help you and your force and to help the citizens and the county of York, that it can be a safer place, we're all for it."
Taylor said that he and Think Loud's other owners planned to continue to support the city and county "as much as humanly possible."
"We've had such a long and great relationship with the city and it's growing every day," he said. "Literally, our building ... you can actually start to feel the real footprint of Live and us coming back to town and this is just a further extension of that investment in the city."
Keuerleber also presented Dargo with a badge and his rank of captain.
"He's named Capt. Dargo ... because Lt. Godfrey is his handler," Keuerleber said. "Lt. Godfrey will have to salute the dog each morning, because of his rank."
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