Key member of force lacks a police vestKey member of force lacks a police vestAugust 22, 2003
She may not be your average police officer, but according to the Oakley Police Department she is a very important part of the team, and who cares if she walks on all fours, occasionally drools in the police car and isn't a very good conversationalist. When she is out on her patrols with Officer Ian Jones, there is no one he trusts more. Her name is Bessi, but don't be fooled by her name -- she is very serious about her job.
Bessi is Oakley's only police dog and when it comes to protecting the citizens of Oakley, Bessi is as important as any member of the Oakley police force. That is the point that 11-year-old Stephanie Brinker would like everyone to understand. Stephanie recently started a fund-raiser to purchase a protective vest to for Bessi.
According to Stephanie's mother, Regina Brinker, Stephanie came up with the idea of helping Bessi after reading a story in American Girl magazine. In the story, a girl raised money by setting out collection cans to buy a dog vest in her community.
"The idea stuck with Stephanie, and when she found out about the Oakley police dog, she wondered if it had a vest, so she called the sergeant," Brinker said. And the process started.
This fund-raiser isn't part of an organized group that Stephanie belongs to. It is simply something she wants to do. "Stephanie just really loves animals and this was a good project for her," Brinker said.
Properly trained police dogs are taught to search buildings and areas for unauthorized persons, track criminals and search for lost children. They look for evidence dropped by criminals in flight, search for hidden explosives, narcotics, chemicals, illegally taken game and cadaver substances. The dogs pursue and apprehend, with minimum force, criminals fleeing a serious crime and arrest, and apprehend on command only and in protection of the handler.
It is really important for everyone to understand that police K-9 dogs, like Bessi, give law enforcement officers one of the finest non-lethal aids in the prevention and detection of crime. That doesn't mean that they are anything like the german shepherd pets you have in your home.
These animals are very well trained to protect and serve. They only respond to the commands of their owners, and many of the commands are in languages that are only understood between the dogs and their handlers or partners in the field.
When you see a police dog in their car, it is best not to approach because they are very protective of their domain. As a matter of fact, Brinker said that she spotted Bessi's police car at Delta Vista Middle school one evening and found that Bessi really doesn't like anyone walking to her car.
Stephanie is currently asking business owners and anyone else who would like to donate funds for Bessi's protective vest to send donations to the Bank of the West, 2195 Main Street, Oakley, CA 94561, Attn.: Bessi's Vest Fund. The money will be directly deposited into an official account and then when enough is collected for the vest it will be purchased and Bessi will be protected from danger.
Different local businesses have been working on helping Stephanie with her goal. For example, Bill Dixon over at Yogurt Island is hosting a fund-raising night Saturday, Sept. 13, from 4 to 9:30 p.m. For every yogurt sold Yogurt Island will donate 20 percent to Bessi's fund.
Also, Great Clips hair salon and Aladino's Pizza are offering coupons to pass along to the first few people who donate. For more information, contact Stephanie and her mom Regina at 925-679-1724, or Suzanne Murray at the city offices at 925-625-7000.
Roni Gehlke's column on life in Oakley appears each week in the Brentwood News.
Distributed by the Contra Costa Times