Burton, a 3 year-old comfort dog in Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, reports for duty

Think Out Loud

Last month, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office had a swearing-in ceremony for Burton, a new member on its force. He won’t, however, be apprehending suspected criminals, working on investigations or responding to requests for back-up. But the help he will provide is just as valuable, albeit in a different way, to deputies and the communities they serve.

Burton is the department’s first comfort dog. His handler, Deputy Kerri Oman, takes the 85-pound, longhaired German Shepherd to comfort victims of trauma or to community events where his vest encourages people to pet him, unlike most police canines. Burton is also in high demand among Multnomah County deputies and first responders to ease the stress and emotional toll of their jobs. Deputy Oman and Burton join us to share more, along with Darin Campbell, the executive director of Working Dogs Oregon, a nonprofit whose services include training and donating dogs, including Burton, to law enforcement agencies in Oregon.