The Rockville City Police Department has officially welcomed its newest officer to the force, and she has four legs and very long ears.
Dare, a bloodhound, reported for duty on Dec. 22 and is now patrolling Rockville alongside her partner, Cpl. James Shieder Jr. The newest K-9 marks a milestone for the department, becoming the first bloodhound ever to serve in the Rockville City Police Department’s K-9 unit.
Earlier this month, Shieder and longtime K-9 handler Cpl. Ali Zeighani traveled to Kentucky to meet Dare for initial bonding and specialized training. While bloodhounds are widely known for their exceptional sense of smell and tracking abilities, all recent RCPD K-9 officers have been German shepherds. Like her predecessors, Dare has been trained in tracking, narcotics detection, and bomb detection.
“The addition of Dare is a major step forward for the Rockville City Police Department in expanding our operational and lifesaving capabilities,” Chief Jason L. West said. Rockville’s K-9 unit has a long history, dating back more than 50 years. The unit was established in 1974 with Officer Larry Yates, who later retired as a captain, serving as the department’s first K-9 handler. Yates partnered with the department’s first police dog, a German shepherd named Rommel.
According to a Jan. 2, 1975 Montgomery Journal article, Rommel was described as “an excellent tracker” and quickly proved his value by helping apprehend a suspect fleeing the scene of a burglary shortly after joining the force. With Dare now officially on patrol, the department continues that legacy while adding a new and highly specialized capability to its K-9 unit. The update was shared by the City of Rockville.
