[0:05] Hello Brooklyn Center. I'm Chief Flesin [0:07] and welcome to this week's Chief's [0:09] Couch. I've got something special to [0:10] share with you today. Something we've [0:12] been teasing on social media for a while [0:14] now. Well, the big day is finally here [0:16] and I'm excited to reveal our surprise. [0:19] Today, I'm proud to introduce the newest [0:20] member of our K9 family, Viking. Before [0:23] Rex joined us just over two years ago as [0:25] our comfort K9, it had been over 34 [0:27] years since we've had a police working [0:29] K-9. Let me explain a little bit more. [0:31] Viking was born in Holland and comes [0:33] from a prestigious line of police [0:34] canines. Before joining our department, [0:37] he previously served in Washington State [0:38] for two years where he worked alongside [0:40] Officer Tyler Sheets as a narcotics [0:42] detection K9. I want to take this time [0:45] to officially introduce you to Viking [0:47] and of course his handler, Officer Tyler [0:49] Sheets. Let's learn more about Viking [0:51] and what he brings to our team. Come on. [0:54] So, Officer Sheets, thank you for [0:55] joining me on the chief's gouge this [0:56] week. I want to officially welcome [0:58] Viking to the Brooklyn Center Police [1:00] Department as he begins his first day [1:01] working with our team. Uh Viking's role [1:04] has historically been as a a narcotics [1:07] detection dog, but he's also being [1:10] trained now in article searches and [1:12] scent tracking uh for potentially [1:15] missing or endangered people. Can you [1:17] tell the community a little bit more [1:18] about what that means? Yeah. So, uh, [1:20] narcotics, um, he's trained in four [1:23] different classes right now. Uh, [1:24] methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and [1:27] MDMA, socy. Um, so he'll be training to [1:30] to to sniff those odors out, um, and let [1:32] us know if there's a odor present. Um, [1:35] and then beyond that, with the article [1:37] stuff, he's learning, um, it's all new [1:39] to him. Tracking an odor is all new to [1:41] him. So, um, right now he's learning, [1:44] um, you know, ground disruption, uh, and [1:46] trying to track people for that purpose. [1:48] um you know if you know we have a kid [1:49] that wanders away and we need to get to [1:51] them um or we have plenty of group homes [1:54] in the city where we often take missing [1:56] people reports um and if if they're in [1:58] danger we can track for those and then [2:00] beyond that it's evidence searches um so [2:02] if somebody ditches a gun or something [2:04] on a track um then we would be able to [2:06] be called for hopefully finding that gun [2:08] and keeping it out of the community and [2:10] hopefully keeping people away from it. [2:12] So So now Viking is our second K9. We [2:16] we've had Rex for a couple years. Can [2:18] you tell the community a little bit [2:19] about how they could potentially or [2:21] should potentially interact with Viking [2:23] if they see him out on the street and [2:25] how that's different than how Rex [2:27] behaves as a dog? Sure. Uh so Viking is [2:31] uh quite a bit different than Rex. If [2:33] you see us out in the community, it's [2:34] always appropriate to come up and ask if [2:36] you can say hi, right? Um I'm more [2:38] personable and I can I can uh kind of [2:40] facilitate that engagement. Um, we would [2:43] recommend that you just don't come up [2:44] and try to pet Viking or stand over the [2:46] top of him. He's got a different [2:47] personality than Rex in that in that [2:49] sense. Um, Rex, his sole purpose is to [2:52] love people and people love him. Um, [2:54] Viking, his sole purpose is to work. Um, [2:56] so when he's in work mode, he he kind of [2:58] tends to stay in that. Um, and so maybe [3:01] if you want to say hi, come up, ask if [3:03] you can, I can put him up for a little [3:04] bit, let him take his break, get him [3:06] back out, and we can facilitate [3:08] potentially going to petting him or uh, [3:10] and and just like people, dogs have bad [3:11] days. So, if he's not having a great day [3:13] or, you know, that's one of the things [3:15] that I'm learning to read with him is if [3:17] he is going to be a personable bulldog [3:19] that day or if maybe it's just time to [3:21] keep him away um, and let him work that [3:24] day and go home and rest after that. So, [3:26] um, definitely come up and ask and and [3:28] introduce yourselves to us. Um, we're [3:31] all for that, but try to, [3:34] um, I guess ask if if Viking is going to [3:37] be can be at their Okay. Well, it's it's [3:40] incredibly obvious to me what a valuable [3:42] resource Viking is going to be to our [3:44] department. Uh, we're so blessed to have [3:47] him and you uh, out there. I I look [3:50] forward to the community seeing Viking [3:52] out on the street helping us do what we [3:53] do best, which is keep Brooklyn Center [3:55] safe. Appreciate it. Remember, if [3:57] there's something you've been wondering [3:59] about the department, our operations, or [4:01] policing here in Brooklyn Center, I want [4:03] to hear from you. So, if you've got a [4:05] question or a topic you'd like me to [4:06] dive into, comment on this video or send [4:09] an email to police at [4:11] brooklandcentermn.gov. [4:13] Until next week, stay safe, look out for [4:16] one another, and remember, we're here to [4:18] serve. Don't hesitate to reach out if [4:19] you need us.