By Lee Bonorden, Austin Daily Herald (Minnesota)
A Mower County Sheriff’s Office canine is the best police dog in the nation for the third consecutive year.
He’s also about to become a television star this spring
Tazer -- with help from handler and Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Ellis -- three-peated at the national finals for police dogs late in 2004.
The threepeat came for a dog that knows nothing else: he won the title as a rookie, repeated the next year and has won again.
What’s ahead for Tazer? “There’s always the goal of the perfect 700 score,” Ellis said.
Until perfection is achieved, Tazer and the deputy will keep their day/night jobs: protecting and serving the citizens of Mower County. Their boss believes crime fighting benefits from both two- and four-legged crime-fighters.
“It’s always a valuable asset,” said Mower County Sheriff Terese Amaze, describing the growing roles of canine partners in law enforcement. “With narcotics detection and people searches it helps a lot.”
Ellis is a native of Mower County, who was raised in California.
He has been a Mower County Sheriff’s patrol deputy since 1998. He was promoted to sergeant in 2003.
His wife, Tina, is a teacher’s aide at Brownsdale Elementary School. The couple has two children: a son, 12, and a daughter, 10.
Ellis was paired with Tazer, a now-4-year-old Belgian Malinois, in 2002 when he went on patrol with the deputy.
“Tazer is actually the grandson of the canine Rocket, who used to work for the Austin Police Department, where he was Lt. Matt Holten’s dog,” Ellis said. “Tazer’s dad, Nike, is actually a working canine in Crow Wing County right now.”
“At the past regionals, Tazer was number one and his dad was number two,” Ellis said. Tazer and his dad were part of an all-Malinois team in the competition, according to the deputy.
Road to glory
The United States Police Canine Association brings together the top police canines in the nation each year after the canines and their handlers go through regional competition.
Tazer made his debut in the nationals in 2002. That year, he won the Region No. 12 competition and the USPCA nationals in Florida.
At the time, Tazer was the first rookie canine to win the national title.
In 2003 Tazer again won the Region No. 12 competition earning 607 of a perfect 700 score.
At the nationals that year, Tazer scored a 694 which tied the highest score every recorded at the nationals.
This year, Tazer scored a 698.67 out of a perfect 700 to win his third straight regional title. “That’s the highest score anybody’s has every heard of,” said Ellis.
At the nationals, he scored a 692 to win it all for the third consecutive time.
In the 35 year history of the USPCA nationals, no other dog has won three consecutive titles.
This year, Tazer outscored 134 other dogs to earn the championship.
“He’ll be featured on Animal Planet in March,’ said Ellis.
A crew from the popular cable television channel came to Austin last summer and followed Tazer and Ellis around for a day and also went to the national competition to film the dog and his handler.
The show will be a 2-hour special, featuring “Canine Cops -- Best in the Nation.”
The canine’s remarkable success as a police dog amazes even Ellis, who knows him best. “I have the same problems as every dog handler has in training” Ellis said, “but for some reason on the actual days of competition he is just right on.”
Tracks, apprehends
The Belgian Malinois is a medium-sized dog, square, elegant in appearance, strong, well-muscled, alert and full of life.
Early breeding emphasized working characteristics.
As a watchdog and for protection, the breed receives an excellent rating.
The Mower County Sheriff’s Office uses Tazer for tracking and narcotics detection.
At home, Tazer shares attention and space with the Ellis family’s pet Labrador Retriever. “He’s not animal aggressive at all,” said Ellis.
On the job, Tazer is all business.
“When he gets in the car, he’s totally focused. He knows it’s time to go to work,” Ellis said.
Obtaining a national certification is important to Ellis, the deputy, when he goes to court and can show both regional and national certifications. “It shows that these dogs are under control and do what they are told,” Ellis said.
Since the deputy and the dog have been paired up fighting crime, their bond has grown. Also the handler’s expectations.
“Sure, I’m proud of the dog, but it’s expected now,” he said of Tazer’s string of regional and national titles. “He’s a professional like I am. I am a police officer. I have to maintain certain qualifications every year and I expect of him, too. He’s my partner.”
Tazer is used mainly for tracking, and he has recorded five apprehensions in his three years of active duty.
“What he’s best at is probably tracking,” said Ellis. “He has probably one of the highest find-ratios in the state. I was told if you have a dog that can find 3 people out of 10 tracks. Our ratio is probably 6-to-10.”
Tazer has made many tracks over 1 and 2 mile distances. His handler’s favorite was when Tazer tracked a suspect over a mile -and-a-half to the back door of the suspect’s house.
Ellis’ boss, Sheriff Terese Amazi has a canine partner of her own, Tia. The Austin Police Department also has canines paired with officers.
The deputy maintains there is no jealousy for Tazer’s successes and celebrity status either among officers or their canine partners.
“We always train together with the city guys. Each dog has its area of specialty,” Ellis said.
A year ago, the Big Kmart Store was burglarized at Christmas.
Ellis and Tazer arrived at the scene first and found the door kicked in by the burglars.
Next on the scene were Austin Police Officer Renee Phan and his canine partner, Joker, who promptly cleared the building
That allowed Ellis and Taxer to track where the burglars parked their car over a mile away.
“We tag-team together. I would use any one of the dogs in this area on the job,” Ellis said.
Deputy and canine are together -- Ellis admitted -- more that he is with his family. “He goes to work with me. When I’m sleeping at home during the day, he’s sleeping in the same room or relaxing. I call him ‘My Little Brother’,” Ellis said with a laugh.