K-9 Unit Roscoe Lends A Helping Paw To Oxford Police Department

BY CLAIRE WILLIAMS
Miami University journalism student

Almost everyone who sees the 20-month-old German Shepard lights up. Roscoe has only been at the Oxford Police Department for one month, but he has already provided invaluable service.

His role as a "K-9 officer" includes area searches, suspect tracking and captures, car searches and most importantly, narcotic detection. He is the third K-9 unit the OPD has employed.

Since Aug. 8, when he first arrived in Oxford, Roscoe has assisted in drug busts that have led to four criminal charges. His handler, Matthew Hardin, could not be more proud of the excitable pup.

Roscoe and Officer Matthew Hardin are ready for action. -- Photo by Claire Williams

A Cop and His Dog

Hardin is starting his fifth year with the Oxford Police Department. He is a former Marine who went to the police academy after he was discharged, and his first job was with OPD.

Hardin was initially hesitant about applying for the K-9 unit position, but after speaking with acquaintances from the Marines who had worked with dogs, he was swayed.

Now he can’t imagine his life without Roscoe, who lives at home with him, his wife and their two young children.

“He’s a Hungary-born dog that speaks Dutch,” Hardin said affectionately. Roscoe was imported to the United States in May from Holland, where German Shepards are bred not for their looks, but as working dogs.

Hardin had to learn Dutch in order to command Roscoe, who immediately jumps in and obeys. His ultimate prize for obedience: a toy. During their six weeks of training, both handler and dog learned how to work together to be an effective team.

“He breaks down barriers,” Hardin said. “Sometimes people who normally wouldn’t come up and have a conversation with a police officer will come up and say ‘Hey, what kind of dog?’ ”

Learning the Ropes

Roscoe and Hardin trained together at Shallow Creek Kennels for 40-plus hours a week for six weeks. Roscoe trained by himself before he was introduced to Hardin. Training was frustrating at times, Hardin said, but ultimately very worthwhile.

Shallow Creek Kennels, located in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, provides training and dogs for K-9 units throughout the country. It trains German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds and other breeds, all imported from Europe.

Funding for just one K-9 unit and training can cost upwards of $15,000. The money can be difficult for smaller police stations to absorb. Roscoe was paid for entirely by the Matt Haverkamp Foundation.

Roscoe and Matthew Hardin play in the Oxford Police Station. -- Photo by Claire Williams

Matthew Haverkamp Foundation

Founded in 2006, the foundation was created in memory of Matthew Haverkamp, a Cincinnati-area K-9 officer who died in a car accident in 2005. Haverkamp and his K-9 partner, Tibo, had worked together since 2002.

His parents, Nancy and Bruce Haverkamp, started the foundation as a way to keep Matt’s memory alive.

“Matthew saw a need for K-9 units, but it is very difficult for smaller police stations to start a K-9 program because of how expensive it is, and how long it can take to find the grants to make it possible,” Nancy Haverkamp said.

Roscoe is the 41st dog that the foundation has sponsored for police stations around the Cincinnati area.

A Need for K-9 Units

“Not only is Roscoe helping the Oxford community, he is also helping surrounding police,” Haverkamp said, noting that Roscoe and Hardin’s services can be used by other police departments when necessary.

“The dogs can run faster, jump higher, and just do more to assist the policemen,” she said. Recently, one of the foundation’s K-9 units, Max, assisted in drug bust of $1 million worth in heroin on I-74 from Chicago.

Through the foundation, the Haverkamps work to keep alive their son's passion for police dogs. They will continue their fundraising events in the spring, with a 5K run on April 15 in Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery. K-9 units they’ve sponsored will attend -- including Roscoe.

Photo: Roscoe is the newest K-9 unit for the Oxford Police Department. -- Photo by Claire Williams