Jordy’s successful crime-fighting career just getting started

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

There is no holster or baton strapped to this police officer’s belt, but Jordy is working his beat.

Illegal drug users or dealers, beware.

Jordy, the Charles City Police Department’s new narcotics dog, has been on duty for not even a month and the energetic Dutch shepherd is already making a positive impact in Charles City and surrounding communities, the department says.

His presence and efforts have resulted in seizures of illegal drugs in several traffic stops that have been conducted within the last three weeks.

According to Police Chief Hugh Anderson, those stops have netted marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The quantity of drugs confiscated was that of mainly personal use, Anderson added.

“He’s had a very high success rate,” the chief said.

Jordy works with his trainer and narcotics officer Dario Gamino. Jordy can be used for search warrants, but so far he has been successful in his short time on the job in finding illegal narcotics in the city limits and in Floyd County through traffic stops.

“The community is getting a surprise that we’re actually utilizing the canine. A lot of people want to say that it is illegal or such. They’re just afraid of getting caught now,” said Gamino. “Word is getting around town. I’m excited to do it. I’m proud to do it.”

Jordy’s first day on the job was Sept. 26 according to Gamino, and resulted in Jordy’s first alert — which resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs.

Gamino said an alert means Jordy is indicating there is in an odor of narcotics inside the vehicle. Gamino and Jordy have done 20 stops so far in the three-plus weeks Jordy has been on duty. During that time, Jordy was alerted five times — three in the city and two in Floyd County.

Anderson said even though the drugs recovered by Jordy and Gamino consisted of personal use quantities, that information can lead to a bigger investigation or the chance for authorities to solve other crimes that tend to come with drug use or possession of illegal narcotics.

“Where are they getting the money to get the personal use? Are they stealing? Are they doing something illegal? Are they selling?” said Anderson. “Even though sometimes we don’t have those huge busts right away or huge amounts of drugs, we still, obviously, we get some.”

Anderson said that on one particular traffic stop, the person carrying drugs almost handed the illegal substance to the officers knowing Jordy was going to locate it. Jordy’s mere presence outside the car resulted in the officers being able to pinpoint where the drugs were in the vehicle.

“It’s hard to tell and measure 100 percent how successful he is because he can be a deterrent without ever even coming in contact with somebody,” said Anderson.

Jordy started living with Gamino on Sept. 13 and a day after that was Jordy’s last initial training session down in Des Moines at Midwest K-9. Gamino has also been receiving help in Jordy’s training with experienced K-9 handlers out of Waterloo.

“They’re veterans in this kind of field. I’m learning from them. I’m learning about their dogs. Jordy is keeping up with them, which is great,” Gamino added.

The state recommends that Gamino and Jordy perform 16 hours worth of training each month. Gamino says he does that and much more.

“Jordy is a tool. You’ve got to keep sharpening up the tool. Iron sharpens iron,” said Gamino.

Jordy, a lively and lanky rescue dog, has plenty of drive and determination. Gamino said it takes a certain dog to be a K-9 and there are three different motivational drives with narcotics dogs — toy, prey and hunting. Gamino says Jordy has all three.

He’s also pretty vocal, according to Gamino.

“I’m pretty sure everyone can now hear me coming down the block with him. He barks at every car. He’s just excited,” said Gamino.

Anderson stated that since Jordy is a rescue dog and his birth date isn’t known, they are not sure exactly how old he is, but he is probably 1½ to 2 years old.

Like a training athlete, the more Jordy is working at his game the more successful and accomplished he’ll be.

“He’s matured. He’s settled down a little bit,” said Anderson.” He’s more focused. He gets out and wants to do his job.”

Jordy is also a quick healer. He sustained an injury to one of the pads on his paws while jumping a chain-link fence during training, but that setback is behind him now.

Jordy’s contributions have also extended beyond Floyd County. Gamino said Jordy was used in a “school sniff” in the New Hampton school district recently. Jordy also assisted in the search of a building in Independence.

“He’s going to be used wherever we would need him, anytime that he can be of assistance to us,” Anderson said.

Encountering and overcoming danger is part of the job for Jordy and Gamino, so they have to be on their toes. Gamino says Jordy should be more than up for the challenge.

“Jordy is having fun. The way that I’m training him is people are unexpectable, so I have to train for the unexpectable,” said Gamino. “Overall, Jordy is going to have a good career here.”