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Retired K-9 goes to Mich. State University to welcome students back after shooting

K-9 Tole went to MSU under his new role as goodwill ambassador for the department

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Dowagiac Police Department/Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/DowagiacPD/posts/513779764274425

By Bill Carey
Police 1

DOWAGIAC, Mich. — Michigan State University students returned on campus recently after a shooting that took place on Feb. 13, in which three students were killed and one was left in critical condition.

Assistant professor Simone Peinkofer had been researching ways to help students feel comfortable about returning, Fox News reported.

“I immediately thought about having a K-9 and its handler [to] join and simply hang out with us,” Peinkofer said. “It would definitely take some of the stress out of my students and help them feel safer coming back to the classroom.”

Peinkofer reached out to her brother-in-law, Dowagiac PD deputy chief Kevin Roman, for some assistance.

Roman brought K-9 Tole, a retired dual-purpose working dog with the Dowagiac Police Department. K-9 Tole attended Peinkofer’s class and participated in class projects, comforted students and posed for selfies.

“He’s our office dog now and what he did up there, helping them cope by being an unbiased dog that only wants love and attention,” Roman told Leader Publications. “I didn’t expect anything less from that dog. He’s so cool.”

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