ADRIAN — Typically, the image of a police dog is of an intimidating German shepherd that looks like it could rip a suspect’s arms off.
Charlie is not that kind of police dog.
Charlie is a copper-colored goldendoodle who works at the Adrian schools with School Resource Officer Joshua Perry. His miniature poodle genetics don’t really show, except he sheds less and he’s a little smaller than a typical golden retriever. He rarely barks, and when interacting with students, he is far more likely to roll over on his back to get a belly rub than he is to do anything remotely aggressive. In fact, that gentleness was a trait that Perry sought out when looking add a canine partner to work with him in the schools, and the dogs are not trained to be aggressive.
The Adrian schools looked into adding a dog for safety reasons and to provide emotional support for students and staff, Superintendent Nate Parker said.
“He has become an iconic part of the school,” Perry said. “Everyone wants to see Charlie.”
“We’re very grateful for our partnership with the Adrian Police Department,” Parker said. “Officer Perry is a huge asset to us and a big part of the team, and Charlie has only added to that.”