Being a K-9 puppy is a tough job, especially for young recruits.
Monday, April 6, 2020, was a big day for Brody… the newest member of the Bristol Police Department, in Rhode Island.
His official swearing-in ceremony took place on that day.
The swearing-in ceremony is a very important moment for every new member of the community, which formally marks the beginning of the new position.
But, Brody’s swearing-in ceremony happened to be on Monday, and we all know how Mondays be like…
While I’m sure that Brody was very excited to start his new position, he seemed to be less interested in the ceremony and more interested in catching up on sleep.
This 12-week-old chocolate Labrador puppy managed to sleep through the entire swearing-in ceremony while his partner, officer Keith Medeiros, served as his stand-in.
The ceremony was broadcast live on the official Facebook page of the Bristol, R.I. Police Department, and it soon became a viral hit.
Brody was peacefully sleeping on the desk while Police Chief Kevin Lynch spoke passionately about the little guy.
He slept through the entire ceremony, only waking up shortly to pose for the photo.
Brody’s handler, officer Medeiros, told The Dodo, “He plays really hard, and he sleeps really hard. When he’s not playing, he’s sleeping, which is kind of tough because he sleeps a lot.”
It didn’t seem to matter to anyone that the puppy was sleeping because he looked very comfortable and cute.
The video that was posted on Facebook has since been viewed almost one million times, with people praising the little K-9 for sleeping.
“Better get your rest now, because your work is just beginning. Woof,” commented one viewer.
Chief Lynch said, “This is a very big day for the Bristol Police Department and for our future. As soon as Brody wakes up, we will have a lot of successes ahead, and he is going to be a superstar for the town of Bristol. I can guarantee it.”
Brody is the first Comfort and Therapy dog for the Bristol Police Department under the new initiative to improve the life standard of people in the town, and hopefully become the bridge between the community and the police.
According to the official Bristol Rhode Island webpage, K-9 Brody’s name is a mix of two words, and it has a significant meaning. The ‘B’ represents the town of Bristol, and ‘Rody’ represents Rhode Island. [1]
Boonefield Labradors, a well-known breeder of comfort and therapy dogs in Rindge, New Hampshire, donated him to the town.
At first, the police department thought about bringing a bomb-sniffing dog, but then decided to accept School Resource Officer Medeiros’ proposal about a therapy dog.
Brody’s job will be to meet the community, visit schools and nursing home residents, and help comfort victims of crime.
Therapy dogs help people cope with stress, anxiety, PTSD, and various other emotions, and they play a very important role in the community.
And, it seems that Brody was just what the town of Bristol needed, especially during the Covid-19 period.
Medeiros said, “People are really stressed, especially in law enforcement. Just by walking in the police department with Brody, people immediately smile. They immediately get into a better place. They want to pet him, want to hug him, and it’s just a really good thing.”
The little K-9 officer has a lot of responsibility on his hands, but there is no doubt in my mind that he will handle it flawlessly.
Great things are upon him. He just needs to sleep and rest well.
If you’d like to keep up with little Brody and see more of his adorable photos, you can follow his Instagram page.
Welcome to the force, K-9 Brody.
We wish you many happy years on the team filled with lots of treats, belly rubs, and sleeps.
References:
[1] Town of Bristol, Rhode Island, Official Website. (2020, August 26). K-9 Brody – Town of Bristol, Rhode Island | Official Website. https://www.bristolri.gov/departments/police/public-safety-services/brody/