KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho – A special, four-legged member of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Rocket, is being celebrated for his comforting presence during difficult moments. Rocket received the “Kindness 9-1-1 Citation” in recognition of his impact on first responders and the community.
Rocket’s handler, Chaplain John McSwain, shared how Rocket’s presence eases anxiety during debriefings.
“We walked in, filled with anxiety, to a room, and there’s Rocket, and we realized that home had arrived at our debrief,” McSwain said.
Rocket has been a consistent support for the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, especially after crisis events. McSwain described Rocket’s instincts in comforting individuals.
“There are times when he’ll walk into a room, there’ll be three or four people there, but he’ll go over to just one of them and just lean on them, or lay at their feet, and let them pet him,” McSwain said. “We usually find out later, not all the time, but sometimes we find out later, it’s like, yeah, that was the person that I needed to talk to.”
Mallory Zelaya, Mental Health Coordinator at Kootenai County Jail, highlighted how Rocket helps address mental health topics.
“Sometimes talking about mental health is kind of a taboo subject, and Rocket really helps bridge that gap and makes people feel more comfortable talking with John the chaplain, reaching out about mental health services,” Zelaya said.
Rocket’s impact is personal for some, like Deputy Gerald Heinline and his wife, who benefitted from Rocket’s visits during a challenging time.
“Rocket is a very special dog. My wife and I, we had, a couple years ago, some complications with her pregnancy. My wife was in the hospital for six weeks, and John and Rocket would come and visit her pretty regularly,” Heinline said.
Heinline expressed gratitude for the comfort Rocket provided during his wife’s hospital stay.
“While I was here at work, and she didn’t really have a lot of support there besides hospital staff, so them coming through and visiting really uplifted her spirits,” Heinline said.
Rocket’s ability to provide comfort and healing makes him more than just a companion, but a valued partner in healing. McSwain acknowledged Rocket’s unique role.
“Rocket does 90% of what a chaplain does, except that I’m going to share hope with you, but he does it in a different way, and it’s pretty powerful,” McSwain said.
