St. Clair Police Welcome K9 To Duty

St. Clair Shores has a new officer in the beat, K9 officer Wylie.

The 17-month-old German Sheperd, who was born in the Czech Republic, joined the department in June and began training with handler Gerald Chomos. 

Wylie, a patrol dog, was certified in September in narcotics detection, tracking, building and area search, evidence search and handler protection.

While he is certified, the training for the K9 officer and his handler will continue.

"His training is never done," said Chomos, an 8-year veteran of the St. Clair Shores Police Department. "It is on-going."

Wylie was purchased with Drug Forfeiture Funds and his training is also paid out of the same fund, according to police Lt. Steven Lambert.

This will be second K9 officer for Chomos. He previously was the handler for Chase, who died in May.

"The chief gave me the option," said Chomos. "With every thing that happened with Chase, I wasn't done with it. I felt like hadn't met my commitment for doing K9.

"When he gave me the opportunity to work a second dog, I gladly took it," Chomos said.

Wylie will be living with Chomos, and helps expand law enforcement efforts.

"It is very rewarding when you do use him and he is able to help out other officers, or even myself, with what we do on a daily basis," he said.