Nebraska State Patrol police dog at Law Day program

The Nebraska State Patrol employs dogs as part of its arsenal to keep the public and troopers safe.

Not just any dog or trooper can serve with the Police Dog Service Unit. A special bond is required between the dog and its handler.

Brent Potthoff, a 10 year patrol veteran, and his canine partner, Amos, demonstrated their skills for the fifth grade students from Superior and Lawrence-Nelson who attended the fifth annual Law Day program at the county courthouse in Nelson last Wednesday.

The selection process to become a canine partner is arduous and expensive. The first step is to select a dog to match with a trainer. The state patrol prefers to source their dogs from breeders in Holland and Germany, two countries with a long tradition of using dogs in police work. Once the dog is born it is weaned and then shipped to the United States. A trainer here will instill basic biting and behavioral traits in the puppy. When an agency requires a dog, they contact the breeder who then completes the sale transaction. The dogs cost $12,000 and up.

Just as important as the dog is the handler. The patrol requires prospective handlers to have at least two years of patrol service before applying for a position in the service unit.

Potthoff attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he earned a degree in criminology and social work. He realized his dream of becoming a state trooper. He is married and he and his wife have three children.

When a position opened in the dog service unit, he applied and was accepted. He was introduced to his new partner, Amos. The pair trained for 15 weeks at the state law enforcement academy in Grand island. The patrol trains their dogs.

There are currently nine dogs in service. The number is soon to drop to seven as retirements loom. The dogs usually work until they are 10 years old. When they retire, they often go to live with the handler as a family pet.

Potthoff has a heated outdoor kennel for Amos at his residence. He does not allow Amos to interact with his young children out of an abundance of caution. Large dogs do not often realize their own strength. This reporter can attest to that fact from personal experience.

Dog and handler work five shifts per week with one shift dedicated to training.

Amos is trained in four areas. He is a trained drug detection dog. He is trained in tracking. He is trained in evidence recovery. He is trained in apprehension.

Amos is now six years of age.

Potthoff noted he has never unleashed Amos on a person. The threat of being tackled by the dog is more than enough to deter individuals from running away. Amos is able to search large areas for missing persons, though drones are increasingly taking over this function.The dog is trained to recover discarded evidence which suspects unload as they leave an apprehension scene. He searches for drugs, firearms, etc. When Amos detects drugs, he sits, which alerts his handler to conduct a more intrusive search. Potthoff and Amos discovered 600 pounds of illegal narcotics in a truck during a traffic stop.

Amos is rewarded during training. When he detects drugs or performs other duties he is not rewarded with treats.

Amos also sports a steel tooth. He somehow broke a tooth. He was taken to veterinary hospital at Northern Colorado University at Greely. They possessed the expertise and equipment to fashion a steel replacement for Amos.

Amos travels in a kennel cage located on the back seat of Potthoff's Ford F-150 patrol vehicle. The unit has a temperature monitor to ensure Amos is always in a comfortable environment. The door has a remote switch to allow Amos to exit the vehicle should the trooper require assistance.

The cost of purchasing the dogs is funded by a foundation. Tax dollars are not utilized to purchase the canines.

Amos is a black Dutch Shepherd who weighs in at 87 pounds. He was bred in Holland. He has a playful disposition until certain commands are issued. Then he becomes the working dog he was trained to be. Many of those commands are in German or Dutch.

Amos and Potthoff regularly patrol the state roads with an emphasis on Interstate 80 where drug interdiction is a major issue. The pair also check school grounds and lockers for narcotics and firearms. This is done at the request of the school and not initiated by the patrol. They also aid other law enforcement agencies when assistance is requested.

Should you encounter a certain state trooper and he mentions that he has gone to the dogs, he means Amos and Amos is not to be trifled with.