After joining the Sedona Police Department in 2018 as a dispatcher, Officer Catherine Beers recently got a new partner from Pacific Coast K9 in Washington: Sam, an 18-month-old black Labrador retriever mix.

“We are excited to announce that the Sedona Police Department added a new K9 single-purpose black Lab partner named Sam to the team,” the city of Sedona stated in a Nov. 20 Facebook post. “The K9 team successfully completed their certification for narcotics detection through the National Police Canine Association on Oct. 12, making them valuable partners for our community and the Verde Valley.

“In addition to her regular patrol officer duties, [Beers] assists with the Cadet Program and Special Olympics.”

Beers and Sam are replacing Officer Jon Reed and his dog Max, a Belgian Malinois that was retired in May. Sam differs from his predecessor because he is a single-purpose drug sniffing dog who is certified to detect heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine.

He is also trained to detect MDMA or “Ecstasy,” although Arizona doesn’t require certification for that drug, Beers pointed out.

“This canine position is a non-bite dog. It’s a single-purpose narcotics dog,” Beers said. “Being a non-bite dog, it’s easier to use for PR. I work the youth program and Special Olympics. He’ll still be available through the Verde Valley and in Sedona  for narcotic sniffs and callouts. But the difference is that being a floppy-eared dog versus the typical German shepherd, pointy-eared dog, aesthetically, [it]comes across as much more of an easygoing dog. With the programs that I’ve been doing for the last four years, the Cadets and the Special Olympics … having that type of dog aesthetically works.”

The duo has already been on display at community events, including golf tournaments and Uptown Trick-or-Treat. The long-term plan is to also obtain a tracking certification to enable the dog to be used for search and rescue. However, that process will take several months to a year.

“As a handler, I have to train to read Sam’s body language,” Beers said. “I also have to have the ability to trust in a dog’s indications and behavior. A strong work ethic and drive for both the dog and the handler are nonnegotiable.”

The daily training regimen consists of a minimum of one hour of uninterrupted time every day to practice detecting narcotics.

“However, we are always training perpetually on duty and off duty,” Beers said. “I spend several hours on my days off continuing to have Sam search for drugs strategically placed in a range of amounts so that he recognizes the odor of the smallest amount used for personal use to large amounts transported for sale.”

Future training sessions with handlers from other neighboring agencies are also planned.

“We train on obedience daily so that Sam can show his sweet, softer side at community events,” Beers said. “Yet, he’s full of energy and ready to work at a moment’s notice. Sam works for a specific reward [such as] a ball on a rope. If I show that ball to Sam, he knows he’s working.” 

Being ready for work at a moment’s notice is the norm now for both halves of the duo.

“I can’t just jump in the car and go to Mexico for the weekend,” Beers said. “He lives with me 24/7. It’s changed how I live my life. I haven’t had a pet in my house for two decades. So it’s like having a child, the whole thing is different for me. So from morning till night, whether I’m on duty or off duty, Sam’s my partner.”

“$12,500 was budgeted for Sam,” city Communications Manager Lauren Browne said. “We have $8,500 budgeted for training, which we’re in the middle of. Officer Beers also receives a monthly stipend for caring for Sam.”

“It’s a lot of work,” Beers said. “It changes my personal life and my work life, but I’m up for it, I’m excited. Sam has the ability to be a working dog for Sedona PD for eight years. So that puts me in a specialty. It’s a good opportunity as a team.”