'Pocket Rocket' pup ready for work

POST FALLS — Duco is primed to take a bite out of crime in Post Falls.

The 2-year-old Belgian Malinois will hit the streets as Post Falls Police's newest K-9 in two weeks after he completes his Idaho certification.

"He's small, but he has juice," said Officer Frank Bowne, handler of the 57-pound dog while introducing him to staff. "They called him 'Pocket Rocket' because he's fast and he hits hard when doing apprehension work."

Duco replaces Koda, an 8-year-old German shepherd that retired in August and became PFPD's first K-9. Bowne keeps both Koda and Duco at his home — separately, of course.

"These dogs want to be alpha," Bowne said. "If I keep them separate, they both get to be alphas."

Post Falls' other K-9 is a German shepherd named Andor and he is handled by Officer Cody Robertson.

Bowne recently brought Duco, born and bred in The Netherlands, back to Post Falls after 10 weeks of training in Indiana.

"When I first met him there was an instant connection, but I still had to put him through the tests," Bowne said. "Everything I've thrown at him so far he's passed with flying colors."

Duco will be used to find and track suspects, detect drugs and locate evidence. He'll be on duty mostly at night.

"He's extremely driven, very social and confident," Bowne said.

Bowne chose Duco out of about 50 dogs and from 15 that he tested. The cost for Duco was $8,000.

PFPD's K-9 program is funded with donations, grants, fundraisers and drug seizure funds.