Rescue dog ‘Newt’ inducted as therapy, gun detection dog for Plainfield police

PLAINFIELD, Ind. — The Plainfield Police Department inducted the latest member to its force this week with K9 Newt.

Although Newt is now officially a member of the Plainfield police force, the boxer mix’s story did not begin there. In a story of “tragedy and triumph,” Plainfield police’s four-legged crime fighter was initially found in April 2023 suffering from multiple injuries caused by animal cruelty and brought by Plainfield police to the Hendricks County Animal Shelter.

“You see what she came from, and you see what she is now, and there are so many dogs at so many shelters that this could be their story too,” said Officer Rob Prichard, who helped rescue K9 Newt last year. “They’re overlooked because they’re quote-on-quote, ‘pound dogs.’ But they still have so much to offer.”

Newt’s previous owner was later convicted of multiple criminal charges , according to PPD. Newt received treatment at a veterinary ICU and made a full recovery at the Hendricks County Animal Shelter.

During her time at the shelter, PPD said Newt caught the eye of police K9 handler Rob Prichard, who identified her possession of “certain qualities making her a possible candidate for PPD’s unique canine program.”

“I thought, ‘hey wait a minute, I think we might have something here,'” Prichard recalled.

This eventually led PPD to adopt Newt into its school resource officer program that the police department facilitates in partnership with the Plainfield Community School Corporation and the Town of Plainfield.

“It’s pretty awesome, just this kind of like cosmic justice of she herself was this victim and now here she is preventing other people from being victims and helping those that have them,” Prichard said.

Newt was later paired with handler Josh Jellison who she continued training with to hone her gun detection skills alongside her responsibilities as a therapy dog. In total, Newt and Officer Jellison completed 120 hours of gun detection training while Newt also became a registered therapy dog.

“When every day is bring your dog to school day, it’s the best day,” Officer Jellison told FOX59/CBS4 News. “She’s changed a lot of behaviors and a lot of attitudes in the hallways. I’ve seen it firsthand. It’s just amazing the work she’s done with the kids so far.”

PPD confirmed that Newt and Officer Jellison graduated from the school resource program last week, officially certifying Newt as a therapy and gun detection dog.

“Newt will have the opportunity to reassure children who have been victimized – a living testament to the ability to overcome adversity. Who better to help the victims of crime than someone that has been one herself,” said PPD in a news release. “Newt is a story of resiliency, triumph and compassion. Her life will now be one of bringing smiles to faces at the school and the community, helping keep students safe. She has already been making a difference this week in the Plainfield Schools.”

Newt and Officer Jellison will be formally recognized at the Plainfield Police Commissioner meeting next week on Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m.

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