Typically K-9 units are littered with Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds, but Poland's new K-9, a Dutch Shepherd/Pit bull-mix hails from Tennessee...where she was found roaming the streets near a construction site.

"Pogo had all of the traits that were necessary for a Police K9.", said Greg Wilson, Poland Township Police Chief.  

Wilson and his wife volunteered at animal shelters for years...and when it came time to find the department's next dog--he wanted to do what no department in the area had ever done.

"I went to the trustees and I explained to them what my vision was and my vision was to have a rescue K9 as our police K9, Wilson added.

Poland teamed up with the Throwaway Dog Project which finds dogs and repurposes them for police work.  While most K9s are imported from overseas which cost thousands of dollars--Pogo was free. Co-owners of Enforcer Working Dogs J.R. Jackson and Marc Peluso, and his girlfriend Tiffany McClain put 150 hours into training Pogo on narcotics and human odor.

"We worked through some issues and she did phenomenally.  It was a privilege to see where started to where she is now.", Peluso explained.  He says it was an all-hands-on-deck effort that included law classes put on by the Jennifer Ciccone law firm

 Pogo will be riding shotgun with her partner and Poland police officer Ethan Moncilovich, who's spent the last four months by her side getting her ready for certification.  He says Pogo has opened his eyes to what a K9 can be.

"Getting a rescue dog and turning her into a K9, that's going to be on the road, finding narcotics and serving the community--I think that speaks volumes that not only can you get a super sweet dog that works from a shelter, but a family dog," Moncilovich emphasized.

Township Trustees gathered Tuesday evening to swear in Pogo as the police department’s Narcotic Detection K-9.

A true underdog that's quickly becoming a favorite amongst the community