Portland, Maine Police K-9 Helps Prep Police Cruisers For The Storm

When there's a potential for double-digit snowfall across Maine there's a lot of work that needs to be done to prepare for it. Public Works crews need to have the salt and sand loaded into the plow trucks, grocery shelves need to be stocked as much as they can, and public safety vehicles need to be ready to go at a moment's notice in a storm.

With a fleet of vehicles, the Portland Police Department has been busy getting them all in tip-top shape to be out in the storm patrolling the roads and being there to lend assistance to those who need it. Police work doesn't stop for a big snowstorm, so there are people there to make sure these vehicles are ready. However, they aren't all human.

Bill Johnson is the man who makes sure the entire fleet of cruisers for the Portland Police Department are ready to go. Portland Police K-9 Barni is the one who checks his work.

Barni is a 3-year-old German short-haired pointer who is an explosive detection K-9. While off duty, he appears to be the unofficial inspector of Johnson's work. His partner is Officer Michelle Cole who has been with the department for 23 years.

When he's not working, Barni sometimes hangs out in the garage lending a paw to Bill as he gets the cruisers ready. Barni gets the final inspection when all the work is done.

The Portland Police Department has six K-9 officers. Three specialize in explosive detection with most of that work done at the Portland Jetport. The other three specialize in a patrol capacity, assisting officers with suspect apprehension, searching for missing persons and detecting drugs.