SPANISH FORK — A new addition to the Utah County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit is making a big impact, and she's not your typical police dog.
At first glance, Stevie looks like a playful, loving 2-year-old cocker spaniel. Friendly and eager for belly rubs. But behind that sweet personality is a highly trained detection dog skilled at finding illegal drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and ecstasy.
"She goes all out. She's doing a great job. Her drive is super high. Her energy level is super high," said Sgt. Lance McDaniel, the K-9 supervisor for the Utah County Sheriff's Office. "I've been working with dogs for a long time, and you become attached to them."
Stevie joined the department thanks to a generous donation from 75-year-old Judy Shafer. The gift is especially meaningful to the sheriff's office, with some saying the level of support brings them to tears. Shafer, who became emotional while talking about the dogs, said she strongly believes in their importance to public safety.
"Sorry, I get emotional. These dogs are critical," Shafer said.
This isn't her first contribution. She previously funded Ruby, a chocolate Labrador trained to detect explosives, and has supported the addition of several other police dogs in her hometown in Oregon. Shafer said the investment is worth every penny, emphasizing that these dogs not only help catch suspects but also protect officers and the broader community.
"I'm not just protecting the officer. I'm protecting the community through these donations," she said.
The sheriff's office called her generosity extraordinary, noting that such significant private support for a K-9 program is rare.
"This is unheard of in my career for somebody to donate as much as she has to help our program," McDaniel said.
