The Demopolis Police Department on Monday welcomed a new addition to the corps, a tool in law enforcement that was provided in part by the citizens of Demopolis.

Bo, a 2-1/2-year-old Belgian malamar, will assist the police department in a wide variety of duties, so be careful in calling him a “drug dog.”

Bo will be utilized in many facets. Some of his work will be sniffing out and locating hidden drugs, but it won’t stop there.

Think you can run from the police on foot? You’ll likely soon find yourself hounded by Bo. He’s faster than you, that’s for sure. But, if you think you’ve got a good head start and a hiding place, he can smell you out. There’s literally very little chance that you can outsmart or out-think a police dog.

Another thing aiding Bo in his role as the DPD’s K-9 is that he has the backing of nearly the entire city of Demopolis. He’s our dog.

Last December, the DPD announced they were accepting public assistance toward the purchase of the animal, approximately $6,500. Many local residents and businesses responded with donations.

The venture was successful enough that Patrolman Cody Key, the department’s dog handler, was soon able to initiate an 11-week training session with Bo before the pooch was able to join the force. Key has been the department’s canine handler for about a year.

My thanks to those who elected to contribute to the cause. That the community was so willing to assist with scraping together the needed funding is a testament to the strength of our community spirit.

Bo, and officer Key, will help keep our streets safe — and drug free — for many years to come. That sounds like a wise investment to me.

Jason Cannon is the editor and publisher of The Demopolis Times.