Meet the NAPD's Newest Officer

K-9 Warro, New Albany's newest officer.

Patrolman Robert Carter and Warro outside the New Albany Police Department.

Meet K-9 Warro, the newest addition to the New Albany Police Department.  Warro has traveled a long way to fulfil his goal of becoming a K-9 (canine) Officer.

“Warro joins us all the way from Czechoslovakia,” explains Officer Robert Carter, Warro’s handler.

As a young pup, Warro began learning commands and training that would help him in his future career.  “The commands that he learned at a young age were all given in Dutch, so it was a fun process getting to learn those commands,” stated Officer Carter. 

Warro, a German Shepard, has the genetics in his breed for the job.  But intensive training is required to focus those skills into a positive force for the community.  Officer Carter and Warro traveled together to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for two months of K-9 training.  There, Warro learned how to channel his inherit abilities to assist communities and police departments.
When most people think of K-9 units, they think of narcotics detection, but Warro has many more skills than just that.  For the sake of example, let’s say a young child has gone missing in a large wooded area.  Warro is able to pick up a latent scent from a personal item (a toy, clothing, etc.) that belonged to the missing child, and then enter the wooded area and begin tracking.  The K-9 unit is able to speed up the tracking process immensely, given he is able to use his powerful sense of smell to follow the trail. 

“Warro can search a huge area very quickly, much faster than officers would be able to,” explained Officer Carter.  “He truly is a force multiplier for the department, and he allows us to serve the community on a much higher level.”

Patrolman Robert Carter, Warro's handler, is pictured with the former K-9s of the NAPD.

Warro also assists in checking suspicious packages, and has been used to conduct building searches.  It may take officers a certain amount of time to conduct a building search for a missing person or a fugitive on the run, but Warro is able to find and detect those people in a much quicker timeframe.  He is also called to assist with search warrants, and has been utilized by the ATF, the FBI, and the NAPD Narcotics Unit.

It’s not all work for Warro though, and once his shift is over, he gets to go home with his friend and co-worker Officer Carter.

“Other than my wife and my son, Warro is my best friend – he’s just such a great dog,” said Officer Carter.  

All-in-all, it’s a pretty good life for Warro.  He gets to use his skills to help the community during the day, and he gets to enjoy a warm and loving home at night.