Rudy and Detective Sgt. Alissa Schuerer pose for a photo in front of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is trotting out the comforts of a four-legged friend.

Rudy, a one-year-old mixed breed crisis canine, joined the sheriff’s office thanks to Detective Sgt. Alissa Schurer on May 1. Rudy is training to become a certified therapy dog.

He has already impacted the office and the community, roaming freely around the sheriff’s office and visiting with his friends, from officers to records staff and anyone else that will give him a pet.

Part of Rudy’s development also involves on-the-job training. He's been a comforting presence when victims are anxious when they come in to make statements, Schurer said.

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“He sat in on a couple of interviews with people coming in to tell some really intimate and personal details,” she said. “He's been a comfort in those situations, which has been really cool to see.”

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More than just a pet

Schurer was inspired by Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation's use of a golden retriever named Matt, who is deployed during crises as well as for therapy.

“Sometimes we deal with some pretty tough stuff here in law enforcement,” Schurer said. “To come back to the office, just kind of get your mind off of whatever traumatic or horrible thing you just saw, to come play with a dog or pet a dog, it kind of distracts you from reliving that incident in your head there for some time.”

She found Rudy after a couple of visits to Forever Home Dog Rescue and a dog foster home. She was immediately struck by his temperament each time she visited. He is expected to complete his training by the end of the year and plans are in the works for his certification tests.

Sheriff Brad Kunkel greenlit Schurer’s, appreciating her willingness to demonstrate the need for a dog. From day one, Rudy has been a great morale booster around the office, Kunkel said.

“Your staff are your number one asset, right?” Kunkel said. “Any leader should invest in their people first, and this is another way to do that. There's all the on-the-job training that everybody needs, but we also need to be investing in staff wellness.”

A good boy gets acclimated

As part of his training, Rudy has been exposed to additional stimuli, including helicopters and ambulances, building familiarity with first responders who may need a calming and relaxing presence. Schurer wants Rudy to step in and help heal her coworkers as often as possible.

Rudy has made several public appearances, including a walk through the pig barn at the county fair, tending the sheriff’s booth at North Liberty’s Blues & BBQ, and participating in the community’s National Nights Out event. Schurer hopes to get the K-9 more comfortable around people and different situations from.

Kunkel said Rudy’s value is connecting with the community.

“Naturally, there’s a calming thing about dogs and it’s a way to build that positive connection, too, with young kids and law enforcement by having that dog present,” Kunkel said.

When Rudy goes home with Schurer at night, she says he sheds his calm demeanor and switches into play mode. Otherwise, he’s like any other dog.

At work, Rudy dons a vest that identifies him as a therapy dog in training, which even includes a little badge on top to encourage petting.

“He really is there for people to interact with him and [for him] to be the social one and just provide that comfort,” Schurer said.

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Meet Rudy, the new Johnson County Sheriff's Office crisis canine