ABOVE PHOTO: Officer Harvey relaxes after a campus meet-and-greet
The newest police officer at the University of Wisconsin-Stout is also the department’s furriest.
. “Everyone will have an opportunity see him and interact with him. He’s just a great dog. I think we will enjoy having his presence at the university.”
Arguably, Officer Harvey is also the cutest member of the University Police. At just over 10 weeks of age, he’s the youngest, and at a recent meet-and-greet with members of the UW-Stout community he was also the sleepiest, curling up on the carpet at the feet of Officer Ryan Murray, who will be his primary handler.
“Wake up, buddy. Are you all tuckered out?” Murray asked his canine companion. The pair were already pals, despite having only met a day earlier, when Murray traveled to Holmen to pick up the pooch. Once Harvey is fully trained – a process that will take about a year – he will serve University Police by assisting people experiencing mental health crises as well as victims of crime.
“Being a victim of a crime can be traumatizing,” Murray said, “and what better way to ease that trauma then a puppy that’s not going to judge you for any reason whatsoever.”
From sniffing out drugs to apprehending suspects, dogs have long been part of law enforcement. In recent years, police departments – both those serving communities and universities – have begun to use therapy dogs. Psychological research has found that interacting with therapy dogs can lessen stress and anxiety for people who have experienced trauma.
University Police Chief Gregory Kalosis said Harvey will help his department “bridge the gap” with members of the community, both on and off campus. An online process to name the new dog kicked off this connection process. Nominations were first sought through UW-Stout’s Facebook page, where hundreds of people offered suggestions. That list was winnowed down to six names in a preliminary round of voting by members of the campus community. Then came a final online vote with three choices: Harvey, Cedar, and Blue.
The winning name was revealed March 6 by Chancellor Katherine Frank, who welcomed representatives of the campus community to a gathering in the Administration Building. Kalosis said 440 people voted in the final round, 43% of them choosing Harvey. Harvey the canine shares his name with a campus landmark, Harvey Hall, which opened in 1916. That academic building is named for Lorenzo D. Harvey, president of the Stout Institute from 1908 to 1922.
Following the naming announcement, Harvey took his official oath of office. Unlike a typical rookie, Harvey didn’t recite the words: Instead, his ink-dipped right paw was pressed onto a certificate. The ceremony was greeted with applause, oohs and aahs, and a few declarations of “Good boy!”
Late last year, several University Police officers had suggested that the department adopt a therapy dog, Kalosis said, and the idea received support from both Chancellor Frank and Vice Chancellor Erik Guenard. Murray agreed to be the animal’s primary caregiver, and he began to investigate how to obtain a training dog. Ultimately, Harvey was donated by his breeder, Schmidt Doodles of Holmen. The university will officially own Harvey and will help cover the cost of food, vet bills and training. However, Kalosis added, local veterinarians, groomers and trainers have offered free and discounted services for Harvey. University Police also plan to seek more sponsors to help fund the therapy dog program. Sponsors will be recognized by having their names placed on Harvey’s vest and will have opportunities for special interactions with him.
Harvey is what is known as a “double doodle” – a mix of labradoodle and goldendoodle. While fluffy, he’s hypoallergenic, and if the recent meet-and-greet is any indication, he’s a very relaxed puppy: Harvey was petted and cuddled by dozens of UW-Stout students and staff members without letting out a single yip.
Now that he has officially joined the force of nine full-time and two part-time officers, Harvey will begin his obedience and therapy training. Unless Murray is on vacation or away for his own training, he and the dog will be virtually inseparable, which means people on campus can look forward to Harvey sightings.
“During the time period that we’re training, he will absolutely be out and about within the university community,” Kalosis said. “Everyone will have an opportunity see him and interact with him. He’s just a great dog. I think we will enjoy having his presence at the university.”
Once Harvey is certified, he and his handler will be ready to respond to certain kinds of incidents, particular those involving crime victims and others experiencing trauma or stress. “His focus will be to ensure that the human who is going through that traumatic time is feeling love and comfort,” Kalosis said.
Murray said he looks forward working alongside Harvey to foster relationships on campus and within the broader community. He noted that the University Police motto is “Available, Accessible, and Approachable.”
“Being a big 6-foot-2-inch guy, it’s kind of hard sometimes to be approachable, and I think having a dog like Harvey is going to bridge those gaps and make that connection easier with the general public,” Murray said.
