The newest member of the Dewey Beach Police Department has worked his first shifts as K-9 Smoke started on patrol with partner and handler Cpl. Carl Kurten beginning Nov. 3.

“He’s solid,” Kurten said. “He pulls harder than my Akita.”

Kurten said he planned to slowly introduce Smoke to his new surroundings, including his first trip to the police station Oct. 31. Most of his life has been spent in a training environment, Kurten said, so he doesn't want to overload him.

Smoke and Kurten just returned from a month-long K-9 training program at Tarheel Canine Training Center in North Carolina, where Smoke learned to be an excellent tracker on hard, soft and mixed surfaces to aid in locating lost people as well as criminal suspects, Kurten said.

“His nose is awesome,” Kurten said. “He tracks like a machine.”

The canine crime fighter is also trained to detect ecstasy, heroin, cocaine and meth, Kurten said, noting many dogs are not certified in detecting marijuana anymore. If he detects these narcotics, Smoke will sit with his nose pointed directly at the drug source.

Smoke has learned to bark upon entry when officers enter a building, Kurten said, and his recall is good, meaning he will return immediately when called during an encounter. During an apprehension, he will bite and hold, not chew or move around, Kurten said.

“Hopefully, his presence will be a deterrent so we don’t need that,” Kurten said.

Smoke is also trained in handler protection and crowd control, Kurten said, and will be working on muzzle work so that he can work crowd control with no bite. Even if a bite is needed, Kurten said, Smoke is not mean.

“Even when he does a bite and hold, his tail is wagging like playing tug of war,” Kurten said.

The 17-month-old Malaherd, a cross between a Belgian Malinois and Dutch shepherd, will get a passport for travel, Kurten said.

“His favorite toy is obviously the ball,” Kurten. “He loves milk bones, and I’m going to give him salmon oil to keep his coat shiny.”

K-9 training will continue daily at the station, Kurten said, and monthly with K-9s from other local municipalities. Smoke will be recertified annually, he said.

Kurten said he hopes to do demonstrations with Smoke and with K-9 Jasper, who is currently training with his handler, Dewey Patrolman Dylan Ebke, in North Carolina.

“I hope to do a lot of outreach with kids, and have stickers and trading cards of him,” Kurten said.

Smoke will be officially sworn in at the next commissioners’ meeting, set for Friday, Nov. 17, Chief Constance Speake said.