Hiram – This week the Village of Hiram conducted a swearing in ceremony for its newest, and youngest officer yet. With a birthday of July 20, 2017, he’s younger than most other officers on the force — even in dog years. And now, Hiram’s first-ever K-9 police officer, Guapo, is ready to hit the ground running with his handler and partner, Officer Devin Brown.
The community-funded program was a long time coming, with planning that began nearly two years ago. Earlier this spring, the two were paired together and have undergone an extensive training program at Excel K-9 Services in Hiram. Under the direction of Paul Shaughnessy, as well as Kyle Dietrich and John Gates, the pair learned to channel Guapo’s high drive, and help Brown and Guapo work together as a team. They’ve recently received their certification and are on the job together.
When the workday is over, Officers Brown and Guapo head home together, as well. In the training process, Brown was advised that in order to help acclimate him to family life, Brown’s four children, who range in age from seven months to six years, were encouraged to draw pictures, write letters, and even read to Guapo to help him get acclimated to life with his new family. Even though Guapo, which means ‘handsome’ in Spanish, was born in the Czech Republic, he responds to commands in Czech. His namesake is the very confident character in the “Ferdinand” children’s’ movie, a film that’s very popular in Brown’s home.
Brown agrees that his partner is indeed, handsome and very confident, but adds, “he’s got a great personality and really loves his job. He’s already an asset to the department. In fact, during his very first shift, Guapo found an illegal substance during a routine traffic stop in the second vehicle they stopped. “He did exactly what he was supposed to do,” Brown beamed, “and I couldn’t be happier.” Guapo has also been trained in tracking and area searches, which will be useful in apprehending suspects or locating lost individuals.
Brown noted that Hiram’s K-9 Program is supported solely by fundraising efforts, and thanked Excel for their donation and training expertise. He also showed appreciation to the Aurora Vet Clinic, area businesses in Hiram, Mantua, and Windham, including the Portage Warthogs, as well as other organizations and individuals who supported this program through donations. “This has been my dream and now that its come true, I can’t thank our supporters enough.” Brown noted his indebtedness to his department, especially Chief Brian Gregory and retired Chief Ed Samec, as well as his family and his fiancé Sarah Harper for their support in helping the program become a reality.
For the chance to see Guapo in person, make plans to attend the Hiram Police Department’s annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 6th at the Kennedy Center in Hiram. To make a donation to support the K-9 program, stop by the Hiram Police Station or give them a call at (330) 569-3236.
