The Good Life – July-August 2014

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LOCAL HERO Not All Heroes Wear Capes BY: SOO ASHEIM | PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 30 I t’s a pretty well understood fact that not everyone in the general public grows up appreciating the responsibilities and often unpleasant tasks of the men and women who wear blue: our law enforcement officers who stand ever vigilant in protecting the majority from the relatively few who would prey upon us. The men and women who provide the “thin blue line” between good and evil within our society who guard us, our homes, towns and cities are rarely appreciated until someone in need or
crisis mode calls out. And yet, within the back of our minds we revel in the security of knowing they are always within a moment’s notice willing to help, rescue or simply lend an extra hand to anyone in need as faithful as the having the sunrise every morning. However, as the need for more “street guardians” grows with every new population census, our law enforcement troops do not. In order to field the many needs they are called upon for – such as searching for lost children or sometimes older adults, breaking up spats between compulsive teenagers or inebriated spouses, rescuing individuals from situations not thoroughly thought out, every day traffic accidents, and being the pang of conscience reminding daily commuters the city streets are not for drag racing, police departments are finding themselves short-handed and stretched to the max. However, the constant need to intercept those who bring in addictive and dangerous substances to our communities has certainly not lessened. Our men and women in blue need more help in rounding up heroin and cocaine, meth and mushrooms just to name a few of the more commonly used street drugs available today. That’s how and when the next level of trained “street guardians” are applied. They are generally known as police dogs or the “K-9” units. Their jobs as trained four-legged officers are to sniff out drugs, track people and help apprehend bad guys. It’s rather awesome to realize someone willing to rob a bank or hold hostage an innocent bystander is less afraid of a gun-toting law enforcement agent than they are of an eighty-five pound dog with flesh piercing teeth and a very serious attitude. Yet, time after time it has been proven true with many a tough guy surrendering in lieu of being charged by a police unit K-9. Among the three valued canines within the Fargo Police department is Sargent George Vinson’s partner, Earl. Sgt. Vinson, K-9 Earl, and I met a few weeks ago when I was invited on a morning ride-along. I’ve been in squad cars with other officers who have canine partners and none were nearly as handsome or (eventually) became as friendly as Earl. Within a few minutes of softly speaking to Earl and showing him I was a friend, he became as docile and 31
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The Good Life – July-August 2014

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