Her nickname is “Wiggles” because she is a ball of energy with a nubby tail end that is always wiggling in excitement. However, despite her sweet nature, soft brown eyes, and cute white speckles, this German Short-Haired Pointer is a serious working dog. She is a K-9 Police officer with the Pensacola Police Department. She is one of eight dogs currently assigned to the K-9 Unit.
The history of K-9 Units at PPD dates back to 1991. The first K-9 officer was a Cocker Spaniel named “Buster”. “They’re assigned an employee number and get an official badge. They have everything an officer has, except the pension,” explains K-9 Supervisor, Sergeant James Parsons. “The department has several patrol dogs trained in tracking, evidence detection and apprehension.” There is also an electronics detection dog, and a bomb detection dog assigned exclusively to Pensacola International Airport, but Wiggles has a unique job. She is the department's first gun detection K-9.
Actually, her real name is “Oakley” like the iconic Annie Oakley who was a sharpshooter starring in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at the turn of the century. Like her namesake, Oakley is also very good with guns. She is specifically trained to detect firearms, ammunition and spent shell casings. Her job is to protect children from potential violence in schools as part of the School Resource Unit.
According to the Pensacola Police Department's website, “The K-9 Unit is a part of the Uniform Patrol Division. K-9 handlers are chosen from the Patrol Division and then trained for 14 weeks with their new partner to meet requirements to be a street team.” Each K-9 team is tested semi-annually for proficiency to meet the standards of the USPCA. In addition, they have eight-hour monthly maintenance training sessions.
Most of the dogs are purchased from Europe and have already been obedience trained. They are trained in voice and hand signal obedience, building searches, tracking, article searches, pursuit/apprehension techniques and narcotics detection. “The dogs learn to understand German commands and must show proficiency in all areas to be certified by the U.S. Police K-9 Association and Florida standards.”
Oakley came to the department on a different path. She is a rescue dog. Parsons says, “She was found on the streets and taken to the Humane Society.” She was brought to the Police Department through Florida’s Pointer Rescue group, eventually trained as a K-9 gun detection dog, and then paired with her handler, 28-year-old Heather Dekle.
Officer Dekle had been researching the idea of bringing a firearms detection dog to the police force, and the concept had been on the radar of the department for some time in response to the 2018 school shooting at Parkland High School in South Florida. When Dekle joined the K-9 unit and was paired with Oakley, a special bond formed that Sergeant Parsons believes will benefit the entire community. "From Day one the dog goes home with the handler and becomes part of their family.”
This coming school year, Dekle and Oakley will be stationed at Washington High School where they will serve as School Resource Officers. They will work as needed with all the schools within the Pensacola city limits but can also be available for other special assignments. Last year, the pair were assigned to Pensacola High School. Officer Dekle says the students' reaction has been very positive. “They love her, and she loves the attention!”
Although most K-9 officers are German Shepherds, Dutch Shepherds or Belgian Malinois, Oakley was selected to be a school resource officer because, unlike pointed-eared dogs that can look intimidating, Oakley’s floppy ears present a friendly vibe. Sgt. Parsons says her biggest role is community bonding with kids and young people. Dekle explains that many of her students unfortunately have a negative connotation associated with law enforcement. She and Oakley aim to change that. “Some of them have a bad home life. It is no fault of theirs, but we can show them a different way of life.”
K-9 officers are often known as heroes. Parsons and Dekle have no doubt Oakley will take on that role with gusto. She is just a year and a half old, so she is working through her puppy stage, but she is a hard worker and a fast learner. Dekle laughs, “She is a ball of energy. The more she’s with me, I can figure out her energy. She’s a little Tanzanian Devil! She’s funny!” But like all K-9 officers, she is trained to do serious work.
Sgt. Parsons has witnessed his K-9 officers in heroic action. “Essentially dogs know no fear. We don’t send them into a no-win situation, but the caliber of dogs we have know how to complete their tasks.” One example is a K-9 officer named “Foster” who bravely disarmed a violent gunman in Pensacola several years ago. Parsons says the suspect was threatening people from the porch of a house with a firearm. “He fled into the house to get a shotgun and more weapons.” Foster was turned loose to apprehend the gunman. The man tried to turn on the dog, but amazingly Foster stood his ground. Parsons says, “He grabbed the gun. He showed no fear. He was able to disarm the man.” Foster held the suspect until officers could make an arrest. No one was injured and a potential shooting was avoided.
Officer Dekle always keeps Oakley on a leash next to her when they are working to solidify the bond between them. When asked if she sees the wiggly pointer as a fellow officer, she answers, “100 percent! She is awesome. I give all the credit to her. She is becoming my best friend.”
The Pensacola K9 teams are credited with making hundreds of arrests annually and answering thousands of calls for service. Like the feisty historical character, Annie Oakley, Oakley the K-9 is ready to make a name for herself.
"They're assigned an employee number and get an official badge."
“Essentially dogs know no fear. We don’t send them into a no-win situation, but the caliber of dogs we have know how to complete their tasks.”