SMITHFIELD - The Police Department's newest and youngest recruit entered a training program this week to bone up on crime-fighting before joining the local force.

He is "Paxson," a year-old German shepherd who arrived in late April and will be one half of the department's fledgling K-9 team. He'll be making cruiser rounds 37¬½ hours a week with his handler, Patrol Officer Paul M. Gilmore, who is also attending the eight-week State Police training course.

Gilmore, 33, and Paxson need to establish a relationship - especially because the dog responds only to commands barked in German, according to Deputy Chief Richard P. St. Sauveur Jr.

St. Sauveur said the department bought Paxson from an Ohio facility, and has applied for a $5,000 grant from the Milk-Bone Co. that would cover much of the $5,800 purchase price. He said the department will also apply for a Wal-Mart grant of between $1,000 and $2,500 that would also be used for the K-9 program.

Police Chief William McGarry had included establishment of a canine team in a list of department objectives for 2008.

According to St. Sauveur, Paxson will live at home with Gilmore and his family, and will work with Gilmore exclusively, taking his "vacations" at the same time as his handler.

St. Sauveur said Gilmore will be reimbursed for the expense of keeping the dog at home and will be assigned a cruiser outfitted with specialty K-9 equipment to assure both the efficient use of the dog and its comfort.

He said Gilmore, who has been with the department three and one half years, was selected from among several department members who expressed interest in the program, and that while they all would have been able to do the job, Gilmore's interest level and the research he had done impressed the panel.

According to St. Sauveur, the department is formulating a list of policies that will determine the details of how the dog will be used. At first, he said, Paxson will assist on patrol as an additional police tool for making arrests, especially where serious crimes are involved. Later, the dog will be trained in narcotics detection, he said.

A significant use of the dog will also come in educational programs, he said, with the department taking Paxson into schools and to various community programs.

He said the K-9 unit will be an inseparable duo, noting that "Where Gilmore goes, the K-9 goes."

The shifts that Gilmore will work remain to be determined, St. Sauveur said.

Expenses for the new program will come from the Police Department operating budget, according to the deputy chief.

He said the State Police training program, for which there is no charge, began Monday and will run until June 27, after which Paxson and Gilmore will report for local duty as a team. ¬ 

- Reach Gerry Goldstein at gerry76@cox.net.