Dowagiac police officer Kevin Roman knew from the moment he met the energetic young German Shepard named Tole that they would make a fantastic duo.

After finishing an intensive national K-9 training program, Roman and his four-legged partner now have the paperwork to prove it.

The two traveled to Michigan’s northeast coast for a five-day certification program in Alpena, through the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers. Roman and Tole were joined by nearly 330 other K-9 teams throughout the Midwest and Canada — including Tole’s Dutch Shepard training partner, Faust, and his handler, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Nevins — at the training program.

During the week, the pair received certification in tracking, narcotics, article and area searches, and handler protection/aggression. In addition to demonstrating proficiency in these areas, Roman and Tole picked up some new tricks that will help them in their duties back home.

“We received a lot of good training — and had a lot of long days,” Roman said about the training.

The NAPCH certification gives the Dowagiac K-9 unit some added clout, especially given how Roman and Tole have only been working together since spring 2016. Typically, K-9 teams have several years of experience working together before they are able to pass the program, said Director of Public Safety Steve Grinnewald.

“[The NAPCH certification] really adds credibility and a certain amount of prestige to the team,” Grinnewald said.

The certification is good for one year, at which time they must attend another NAPCH program.

Tole (pronounced toe-lee) joined the Dowagiac Police Department in April 2016, when Roman and department leaders selected the 4-year-old German Shepard from a group of eight canines with Blue Line Police K-9. Tole was purchased — through the generosity of Starks Funeral Homes — to replace the Dowagiac’s previous K-9, Cessy, who retired in 2015 after 10 years of service with the department.

After completing initial training, Roman and Tole began working regular shifts in July 2016. The pair are on duty two to three nights a week, with the German Shepard using his heighted sense of smell to assist the department in drug searches, as well as to track down suspects or missing people.

While a benefit to the people of the Dowagiac community by helping get drugs and firearms off the streets, Tole has become a valuable resource for law enforcement in neighboring areas as well. Last week, the K-9 helped authorities in Berrien County track down a home invasion suspect, with a simple snarl from the dog prompting the subject to immediately surrender himself into police custody.

Just like a human, however, Tole’s abilities can start to weaken if he does not keep his skills honed on a constant basis. With that in mind, Roman and deputy Nevins get together every two weeks to run drills and exercises with their respective partners.

“We want people to understand the amount of time and resources we put into our K-9 unit,” Grinnewald said. “We not only have Tole at the station, but we also are always making sure they are a top-notch team and up to speed with all the latest training.”

Though Tole has his stubborn moments, Roman said working — and living — with the police dog has been a very rewarding experience. Besides their efforts to make Dowagiac a safer place, Roman said playing with or petting Tole is a great way to decompress after a stressful day.

“[The job is] time consuming, but at the same time you get to work with your best friend every day,” Roman said. “It’s an awesome job.”