Excited to see his handler, Rawley wants out of his cage and is eager for attention. West Virginia University Department of Public Safety (DPS) Sgt. Bob Tucker talks to his K-9 partner and pets him. The three-year-old golden retriever wants nothing more than to play and be petted.

But at Officer Tucker’s command, the play becomes all business, as Rawley is no ordinary dog. The newest member of the DPS staff is trained to find explosives.

“With what’s happening in the world around us todayterrorism, the war in Iraq and suchthe department felt a K-9 with bomb-sniffing abilities would be a great addition,”Tucker said.

In the past, DPS would have to rely on the State Police and a bomb squad from Charleston when faced with a bomb threat. Having Rawley on staff allows for a much quicker response, he noted.

“We’ve been checking our facilities, especially the larger ones, prior to events,”said DPS Director Bob Roberts.”The dog is more efficient and can check the venue faster than our officers can. Not only will we use him on threats, but he’ll be invaluable for events like football and basketball games and concerts.”

Rawley underwent special training for almost two years to learn how to find almost every kind of explosive there isblack powder, TNT , C4, C3 and dynamite. That was followed by a six-week course in which both the dog and Sgt. Tucker took part in a K-9 school in Rocky Gap, Va.

“In a way, I learned as much from him as he learned from me,”Tucker said.

When he’s not searching for explosives, Rawley undergoes continuous training to stay sharp.

“After 9-11, everything changed,”Tucker said.”Having Rawley makes for a safer campus. He’s just an extraordinary dog who brings about a peace of mind.”