Superintendent of
Perry Township Schools
The old adage that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” still rings true in Perry Township Schools. We are working hard on numerous fronts to protect your children from the influences of drugs and alcohol.
Recently, the district’s Police Department recruited a new “staff member” who is just beginning his career with us. Roscoe is a 10-week-old black Labrador retriever who will be trained as a drug dog. Officer Tom Nolan was selected as Roscoe’s partner, and they will eventually work as a team in and around the schools.
Roscoe is still eating moist puppy kibble. His favorite snack is Smartfood white cheddar popcorn. As for toys, he enjoys any type of ball and is also quite fond of a leather teething rag (which saves the family’s couches and slippers).
Roscoe loves the snow. Nolan has trouble getting him to come inside when it snows because the dog loves to bite at the falling snowflakes and bulldoze his nose into the snow. Since the puppy is too little to jump into the police car, Nolan helps him get in. Roscoe wants to sit on Nolan’s lap, which is not safe. Roscoe will soon have his own kennel in the car.
Roscoe was selected because of his drive and natural demeanor as a working dog. He has already started basic obedience training and is being socialized with people; last week he visited Rosa Parks-Edison Elementary.
When he is between 9 and 12 months old, Roscoe will attend a four-week detection school with Nolan. Detector dogs are imprinted with specific behaviors upon smelling certain odors, especially those of narcotics. District Chief David Stalcup is state-certified as a detection instructor and will be helping along with trainers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department.
When “working,” Roscoe’s uniform will be a collar clearly marked “POLICE K9.” When fully trained, he will be a full-time officer first and a family pet second.
Roscoe will also serve as an ambassador to the township and Indianapolis for drug prevention programs, such as Red Ribbon Week. When Roscoe is certified, he will not only work for the township but all of the county. There is a need for police dogs in other school districts and police entities inside the city.
The district has one state-certified narcotic dog, Drake, a Belgian Malinois partnered with Stalcup. In addition, the township has access to an unlimited number of such dogs through the assistance of MCSD, IMPD and the Indiana State Police.
Thanks to all our school officers for keeping our schools safe.