SPOKANE- Two 2-year-old dogs, Rosie and Duke, joined Providence Sacred Heart’s K-9 Unit, replacing two dogs that retired.
Since the K-9 inception in 2018, which included three dogs, Sacred Heart has touted a 42% decrease in violence.
According to K-9 Unit officers, dogs provide a visual deterrence toward violence that a human officer does not. They argue that this is part of the reason the program has proven to reduce crime.
The K-9 Units undergo training and certifications so they are able to detect illicit drugs and explosive materials.
“Across the country, hospitals are experiencing higher rates of workplace violence. Which can be anything from verbal threats to physical violence,” Sacred Heart Security Officer, Jereme Daw, who handles Duke, said.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2018, approximately 10.4 of every 10,000 workers in the health care and social assistance industry experience an intentional injury by another person while on the job.
Health care workers accounted for 73% of all non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in 2018.
Hence– the need for K-9 teams like Rosie, Duke and Sarge, who has been with the Unit for a while.
While on duty, the dogs are focused on their patrols. However, they are still dogs who like to have fun.
“We get up in the morning and she’s [Rosie] a normal dog at home. She runs around, she chases the ball, she loves the family. And then, I put on her uniform, as well as mine. And she stands by the door and she’s ready to go,” Sacred Heart Security Officer, Rachel Adams, who handles Rosie, said.
