Dover police dog team rated in top 10 at national event

By BRUNO MATARAZZO Jr.
Democrat Staff Writer

DOVER - One of the Dover Police Department's canines fetched a spot in the top 10 in a nationwide competition for police dogs specializing in drug searches.

Norman and his partner, Officer Timothy Keefe, placed ninth at a competition sponsored by the United States Police Canine Association in Bay St. Louis, Miss., last week.

The association is the largest police canine organization, which provides minimum standards for working police dogs.

During the competition, Norman searched five cars for drugs in two minutes and two rooms in a building.

Out of a score of 200, Norman and Keefe scored 194.17.

The competition gave the team a chance to go against "top police dogs" from much larger law enforcement agencies across the country.

Officer John Usher said Keefe and Norman have spent two years together as a team. Usher said that Norman arrived in Dover after being teamed elsewhere with a handler, who had been abusive.

Twenty pounds overweight, kept in a kennel for most of the day and having no hair on his belly, Norman is now a healthy and social dog.

Norman frequently assists surrounding state and federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the New Hampshire Drug Task Force.