Page 3 - The Wayne Dispatch

Golden beauty joins Police Department

By Carolyn Marnon
The newest copper-haired mem-
ber of the Wayne Police Department
is only three years old and does not
require a salary. Zeke, a beautifully It’s like my
coated golden retriever, has been
working out of the police department dog got a job!”
since November.
One Friday last fall, Police Chief
Ryan Strong brought his dog, Zeke, Chief Ryan Strong
to the police station to keep him
company while some staff had the
day off. That also happened to be a
day that on-duty police officers had
responded to a particularly trau-
matic call. When they came back to
the station, says Chief Strong, they
gravitated toward the dog. Zeke was
thrilled with the attention, and the of-
ficers were able to have a calming
moment with him. It was at that mo-
ment that Chief Strong decided to
sign Zeke up for classes to become a
certified therapy dog. “It’s like my
dog got a job!” exclaims Chief Strong.
Since Zeke was already Chief
Strong’s dog, he was under the care
of a veterinarian and was being fed
and cared for. There would be no
costs to the City involved in making
Zeke a therapy dog. The costs of the
training and certification were cov-
ered by Chief Strong.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD)
provides support to those who use
dogs to visit nursing homes, hospi-
tals, schools and other facilities
where a canine can provide smiles
and joy to others. According to ATD,
therapy dogs can reduce stress and
anxiety, provide companionship, and
ease loneliness. They help people get
through emotionally trying times. A
therapy dog does not need special- Chief Strong’s dog, Zeke, in his bed at the Wayne Police Department.
ized training because their only goal very stressful job. Murders, horrible Strong has implemented as part of a meeting the community for which he
is to provide comfort and support. accidents, and seeing people on the larger wellness program. In 2020, now serves. The police department
However, a therapy dog does need to worse days of their lives can wear on the department is partnering with has already received requests for vis-
have the temperament to be around an officer, especially when these Hegira Health who obtained a grant its from the high school, the court-
new people all the time, have good events happen continuously over the to provide additional wellness pro- house, the dispatch center and a
manners, and be friendly. career of the officer. According to grams for the Wayne officers. domestic violence shelter. “The com-
Zeke underwent 24 weeks of obe- the National Alliance on Mental Ill- Zeke’s Coffee, a family-owned munity feedback has been over-
dience training before being given an ness (NAMI), nearly 1 in 4 police of- neighborhood small batch coffee whelming,” says Chief Strong. “So
obedience test. After that, he under- ficers have thoughts of suicide at roastery in Baltimore, was part of much positive feedback. People have
went a series of observations by ATD some point in their life. In the small- the inspiration for Zeke’s name. already stopped into the police de-
while visiting various public places, est departments, NAMI says the sui- Chief Strong loves their coffee. The partment to meet Zeke.” Zeke enjoys
such as a hospital and a psychiatric cide rate for officers increases to other part of the inspiration came the attention he has been getting and
facility. He was also observed at the almost 4 times the national average. from Zeke the Wonder Dog who sharing golden moments with others.
police department. More officers die by suicide than in catches frisbees during halftime at Zeke will be worth more than his
A larger wellness program is the line of duty. Having Zeke in the Michigan State University football weight in golden opportunities to
being instituted at the police depart- police station can help provide a games. serve the men and women of the
ment under the command of Chief form of stress-relief to the officers. After the holidays, Zeke will head Wayne Police Department and the
Strong. Being a police officer is a This is just one step that Chief out into the community and start community at large.
The Wayne Dispatch · January 2020 · 3