STORY BY THOMAS CHAVEZ / TOP PHOTO BY KENDRA STANLEY-MILLS

The Grand Valley State Police Department welcomed a new member to the team over the summer. This new hire is a little furrier than the rest.

Scout, GVPD’s new K-9, joined GVPD in June after spending four weeks in Clare, training with Officer Paul Weaver. During that period, Scout was trained as an explosives detection K-9 and gained experience in search and rescue operations.

The 2-year-old black Labrador retriever will play a vital role in GVPD’s safety protocols during football game days and other large events on campus, Weaver said.

For Weaver, leading the K-9 Unit with Scout was an opportunity he could not pass up.

“I’ve always liked watching dogs work and I enjoy training. So they kind of went together,” said Weaver, who has been with the department for nearly 20 years. “I’ve been here for quite a while, so it’s a nice change of pace.”

When the pair first met, Weaver said it only took Scout around half a day to warm up and form a bond with him. They have been attached at the hip since.

One trait of Scout’s that Weaver said stood out from the moment they met is his drive.

“He wants to go all the time. He’s always alert and he wants to work,” Weaver said.

So far, his favorite part of working with Scout is the variety of work his daily routine now brings.

“Every day is something new. We’re always trying to think of new ways of training and different scenarios. It makes it fun,” he said. “We try to spend an hour per workday doing some training.”

Weaver and Scout initially experienced GVSU during the summer, when foot traffic on campus is at its lowest. While the return of students to campus in the fall is nothing new for Weaver, he said he was excited to experience the start of the fall semester
with Scout.

”I like seeing how Scout interacts with the students. He enjoys meeting new people,” Weaver said. ”It’s great to watch that and see how people always light up around dogs.”

Interacting with the campus community is only one part of Scout’s job with GVPD. Scout will tackle his first season in football gameday safety operations. To get Scout ready, Weaver has spent time getting Scout used to crowds, different environments and loud noises such as fireworks.

“Our first priority at GVPD is to create a safe environment for all members of our community, students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said GVPD Chief Brandon DeHaan. “Officer Weaver and Scout have trained extensively together to prepare for this academic year.”