Obedience: Lessons From a Dog

While working with Joaquin on his memoir these last six months, he shared how God used his dogs to teach him about obedience. German shepherds are known to have a high degree of intelligence, which explains why Joaquin believes God has used them to teach him many things in life. While working the nightshift, Joaquin often retreated to the serene setting of the Japanese Gardens in the wee hours of the morning. It was there, in the treasured quiet moments between police calls, where God spoke to Joaquin’s heart.

Owners and breeders of German shepherds are familiar with the initials: GSD. One night while Joaquin was parked at the garden with Rookie, God asked him to take a closer look at those initials.

GSD…God Serving Dog.

Spell DOG backwards…GOD.

Shepherd…how many references in scripture tell us that God is our Shepherd and we are His people.

As all dog owners know, dogs demonstrate unconditional love, much the same as God. Joaquin joked that he thought sometimes God brought these thoughts to his mind just to baffle him. The parallels are plain to see. Just like Joaquin’s dog sits, waiting for his master to speak, we need to do the same with our Master.

Here’s the clincher: when God does speak, we need to respond in obedience. That was the all important part I failed to grasp right away.

On a family vacation in the Black Hills one summer we happened upon Brulé playing in a tourist area. The music from this upcoming band of three was as captivating as the surrounding landscape. Their distinct sound initially caught my attention—the hauntingly beautiful mix of flute, keyboard, and traditional drum they are now famous for. Listening one could immediately sense something deeper at the heart of it. Sure enough, in reading Paul’s Artist Bio I was equally captivated by his life story.

All the way home I heard a Voice, You should write a book about this man…

But before I reached home my own doubts drowned out the Voice, telling me I had no connection to Paul LaRoche, a complete stranger. Besides, I wasn’t Native American, or adopted, and I didn’t have any writing credentials.

And because I didn’t trust the Voice, I let three full years pass before I responded in obedience.

Once I did, doors opened in ways I never could have imagined. What I lacked in experience I gained in affirmations as I began writing, and a series of trips to South Dakota. When Hidden Heritage: The Story of Paul LaRoche was released in 2006, I knew I had found my calling. That same year I went on a mission trip to Mexico with a group from our church. A testimony from one of the men became the material for my next book. Seeds of Salton is a powerful story of courage, love, and the transforming power of forgiveness. And before I could find an agent to rep Seeds of Salton, I received a phone call from Joaquin, asking if I would consider writing his memoir. You see one of the places Brulé played was the Soaring Eagle Casino near Joaquin’s hometown of Saginaw. Joaquin too was moved by their stirring music and found an instant connection to Paul.

I’ve been fortunate to write the stories of these three individuals, a journey that’s allowed me to spend time on an American Indian Reservation, discover the rugged ranchlands of Eastern Montana, and most recently, ride shotgun in Joaquin’s police car.



Lower Brule Sioux Reservation
South Dakota



Montana section road



Montana sunset over the Missouri Breaks



Riding shotgun with Joaquin on patrol

Looking back, think all I would have missed had I not stepped out in faith back in 2002. Come to think of it, that was the very same year we got our dog Miss Abbie, my puppers, who was always at my side, waiting for me to speak.

My faithful and loyal Miss Abbie, helping me write

I dunno…I think Joaquin’s onto something with lessons from a dog.

Barbara

Michigan & Rookie...Things I Learned

The manuscript is written, the edits are complete, and now it’s time to move into the design phase. After months of research, interviews, discussions, and rewrites, it’s exciting to know Joaquin and I are mere weeks from having a published book.

One of the coolest parts of being an author is learning about the topic you’re writing about, in this case a K9 police officer. When I think back to last summer at this time, the Hidden Heritage episode with Joaquin’s story, “Native American Heroes” had just aired. At that time I only had an outline written and had no clue all the things I was about to discover.

CITY OF SAGINAW – Even though both Minnesota (where I live) and Michigan (where Joaquin lives) are in the Midwest and border Canada, the two states are quite different culturally. The outlying cities in Michigan (including Saginaw) that supported the automotive industry and manufacturing plants of Detroit created a much different way of life than out-state Minnesota, where farming and small businesses were the prominent employers.

K9 POLICE OFFICER – Like most people I was aware of the typical duties of police dogs, but I had no concept for the intensive training that is required for the handler. The partnership between a working dog and officer is much deeper than a family pet because it’s a 24/7, life-and-death, love and loyalty. The extraordinary bond begins on the first day of training and continues from that day forward, both on and off the job. Officers who begin K9 training are told they will become closer to their dog than their spouse, kids, or fellow officers because of all the time spent with the dog, a statement that in fact turns out to be true.

DANGERS IN POLICE WORK – Even though I worked in police records for the City of Lakeville Police Department for 7 years, my comfortable third-ring suburb of Minneapolis saw much less violent types of police calls than Saginaw. In contrast, Joaquin worked the nightshift for the City of Saginaw Police Department for 22 years and was routinely involved in high-stress calls: shootings, homicides, fatal crashes, escaped fugitives, armed robberies, fatal fires, violent domestics, narcotics busts, gang violence, and more. As Joaquin said, “You learn what you have to do in order to go home at the end of your shift.”

GIVING BACK – Even though Joaquin worked fulltime as a police officer, he went above and beyond and found another way to give back to his community. Using his K9 partner Rookie as his mascot, he created Precinct 131, an educational program designed for young kids in Saginaw to “say no to gangs, guns, drugs, violence,” in a community besieged by gang violence. What began as a short K9 demo to one classroom at a time, Joaquin turned into a multi-faceted ministry with outreaches to nearly every group of people in Mid-Michigan.

SEARCH-AND-RESCUE – Through the eyes of Joaquin and the nose of Rookie, I learned what it was like to be at Ground Zero following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, thrust into the dangerous work at The Pile. More importantly, I realized the responsibility Joaquin felt in helping the victims and families, and the never-give-up spirit among the search-and-rescue volunteers. Joaquin’s experience started with the devastating images at Ground Zero, compiled with the survivors retelling their painful stories…and how heavy the totality of it weighed on his heart.

SERVANT’S HEART – After spending this past year working with Joaquin on his memoir that included two trips to Saginaw—seeing Joaquin’s K9 facility, joining him on ride-alongs in his K9 patrol vehicle, attending K9 training, long phone conversations—what I discovered was a man with a servant’s heart. Joaquin turned his love for his dogs into a gift for his community; a tool to reach out and make a difference in the lives of young school kids and local citizens.

Bottom line, I can’t wait to share this heart-warming and touching story of Joaquin and Rookie with everyone!

Barbara

Michigan & Rookie, the Marathon!

Running a marathon is a popular goal for people these days. Personally, I don’t get it. I’m more inclined to think, “Who would want to run 6 miles, let alone 26!” Yet there they are, lined up by the tens of thousands at the starting line, eager to begin. Whenever I meet one of “those people” and they happen to say, “I ran a marathon last year,” I always detect a sense of pride in their voice.


I think it’s more about achieving a goal, like, I did it. Well, I just finished a marathon of a different kind. Between January and May of this year I cranked out over 60,000 words for Michigan & Rookie, my new book about Officer Joaquin Guerrero and his K9 partner Rookie. When I hit “Send” and electronically forwarded the completed manuscript to the publisher this week, I raised my arms in jubilation, thrilled that I’d accomplished my goal. Whether you’re a marathon runner, a writer, or a K9 handler, the common thread is the steadfast commitment to a passion of the heart.

In my last post I shared a little about how K9 handlers like Joaquin train and the long hours they spend with their four-legged partners. After my day observing the K9 handlers in Detroit, I had one more ride-along with Joaquin and Rookie II in Saginaw.

Once again I cruised the streets of Saginaw with Joaquin and Rookie, the Saginaw River dividing the city into two parts, east side and west side. The downtown area rests right along the scenic river’s edge.

Joaquin shared bits about the history of Saginaw, how in its early days it was a great lumber city, where the logs floated from upriver to the mills. Saginaw thrived once again when the automotive industry made its home in Michigan and families worked the plants that supplied parts to Detroit’s Big Three—GM, Ford, Chrysler.

The Saginaw city seal reflects both great industries.

When the manufacturing plants closed down, economic hardships hit the city, changing the face of Saginaw. The population dropped from 75,000 to 50,000, leaving many homes abandoned, something that’s still evident today.

Joaquin took me past the locations of some of his more interesting police calls, stories that are included in the book:

-an abandoned house where Rookie found a young man buried in concrete

-the old train depot where officers captured a dangerous fugitive

-a dumping ground on the edge of town where K9 teams found body parts from a homicide

And just when I had this sense that Saginaw was a city without hope, the violence imbedded so deeply, we stopped at a 7-Eleven to pick up Joaquin’s “rocket fuel”, (a/k/a Arizona ice tea). One car over an older woman waved at Joaquin, very animated, like she had something important to tell him. Even though it was late afternoon the woman got out of her car dressed in her Sunday best, a long dress coat, heels, and fancy feathered hat. Joaquin walked over to see what she needed. “I just want you to know I’m praying for you,” she said, her brown eyes beaming. “You have a good night now.”

Message delivered, she turned and went into the store. Well up in years, this woman had to share what was on her heart, to let Joaquin know she was praying for him, a policeman in her city, going about his nightly job. Watching their brief but tender exchange, I was touched…especially knowing what police officers in Saginaw routinely face. This is not Mayberry RFD.

Here’s what I mean: In 2011 Saginaw rated #1 for having the worst violent crime per capita in the country, and has held that distinction for 10 years running.

It amazed me to watch these officers, men and women, rush to answer every call that came over the police radio, from minor things like two (adult) sisters fighting over cigarettes and calling 911, to a man with a history of mental illness reporting someone in his house with guns threatening to kill him. They responded to each call without hesitation. It’s in their blood.

Must be that passion of the heart thing.

Barbara

K9 Training with Agent Annie Marshak

In continuing my research for “Michigan & Rookie” I returned to Saginaw last week to take training one step farther than mere police work.

Rookie II...keeping an eye on "Dad" whenever Joaquin gets out of the patrol car

Joaquin & Rookie II

 This time I tagged along with Officer Joaquin Guerrero and Rookie II down to Wayne, Michigan (on the west edge of Detroit) to K9 Academy with Master Trainer Terry Foley. A total of 58 K9 handlers from all over Michigan show up at Terry’s facility five days a week, from newbies just starting out to seasoned handlers like Joaquin. Terry starts out each session by having handlers talk about any K9 issues, which gives officers a sense of support they don’t often have in their own departments.

Different types of training go on simultaneously, depending on the level of the handlers. Joaquin suggested we hook up with 2 brand new handlers at Lower Huron Park to do a straight-line track, which made sense since it was my first day of K9 training too.

#1 Rule in Tracking:  training goes on despite the weather. This is the nitty-gritty world of police work—rain, snow, mud, whatever, you train in all the elements.

Straight-line track

Tug-toys for a reward on the track

I learned that obedience is key to all areas of training. And it’s not as easy as it looks. If you’re right-handed you have to use your left hand to switch between the tracking harness, leash, and long lead in order to keep your right hand free for your weapon. Added to that is the timing of commands and praise to the dog.

After a couple hours sloshing through wet grass, we took a break for lunch and then met at an empty school used for building searches and narcotic finds. Trainers come up with various scenarios and play different roles: Bad Guy, Back-up, Decoy.

#1 Rule in Searches: when the handler sends the dog, make sure you stay BEHIND the handler so the dog doesn’t mistake you for the Bad Guy.

Building search

German shepherds thrive when given a task and want to please their handler

"Bad Guy" gets a bite

The atmosphere among officers was somewhat subdued by the loss of a Michigan State Trooper early that morning. Trooper Jeffrey Werda, from the Bridgeport Post near Saginaw, was killed in an on-duty rollover crash. Trooper Werda had responded to assist the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department in pursuit of a suspect who had fled from deputies. Flags were lowered to half staff in honor of Trooper Werda…another reminder of the constant danger facing law enforcement officers.

Terry’s goal at the academy is to train handlers for situations that officers see on a daily basis…and prepare them for the worst. Terry speaks from experience…24 of his 29 years are in the K9 field, a career that includes three full-service dogs. As a Master Trainer his objective is to have every K9 officer become an expert in:

• Court testimony
• Health of the dog
• Report writing
• Training documentation
• Legal issues pertaining to K9

Down time between searches

#1 Motivation for Becoming a Handler: love for the dog.

Training dogs is as art; handlers learn to read the dog…and ultimately trust the dog. A canine is the only “tool” that police officers can’t put on the shelf when they go home at night. SWAT officers have told Terry that K9 training is 10% harder than SWAT.

#1 Interesting Fact: a canine is the only “bullet” an officer can send out…and call back.

Master Trainer Terry Foley

 For more information on K9 Academy & Training Facility, go to www.K9ATF.com

The day ended with a drive home in the pouring rain, a two-hour drive Joaquin and Rookie II make every other week in order to continue their ongoing training.

Next up: news & notes from Thursday night’s ride-along with Joaquin, Rookie II, and Saginaw PD’s nightshift.

Agent “Annie” Marshak

Barbara "Annie" Marshak; Reporting from Saginaw, Michigan

In order for me to get a clear picture of what it's like for Officer Joaquin Guerrero and his K9 partner Rookie II to work Saginaw's dangerous night streets, I decided to make a trip to Saginaw to join him on a couple ride-alongs.  Having worked at the Lakeville Police Department for seven years of course, I felt I had the experience necessary to serve as Joaquin's crime-fighting partner for two nights.  Picture Annie Frost, US Marshall on the new NBC show "Chase". 



US Marshall Annie Frost in black vest with weapon drawn

You can probably see where I'm going with this, the resemblance is obvious...blond(ish) hair pulled back, black vest, a serious, lets-get-down-to-business attitude.

 

Barbara "Annie" Marshak reporting for duty with pen and paper ready. 


One important factor to keep in mind is that the difference between Saginaw and Lakeville is like comparing Mayberry to Detroit.  No kidding.  Lakeville has virtually no violent crime and Saginaw has ranked #1 the last ten years for having the worst violent crime per capita in the country.  Joaquin reassured me, however, that's due to the high number of shootings, not necessarily homicides.  When it comes to police stats, there is a difference.  Nonetheless, Joaquin advised me to wear a bulletproof vest and I complied. 

The Saginaw PD operates on 12-hour shifts, so we reported in Friday afternoon for the Umbrella shift, 3:00 pm to 3:00 am. 

As it turned out, the weather played a big role in my weekend visit to Saginaw.  Michigan had just been hit with the massive winter storm that covered most of the country, and dumped over a foot of snow on Saginaw, followed by more blowing, drifting snow.  (Poor Joaquin even got stranded on the road and had to sleep in his squad the previous night!)  Because of the winter storm Joaquin advised it would probably be quieter than usual.  I filled out the ride-along paperwork while Joaquin checked in with the sergeant on duty.

Friday Night Ride-Along:  Looking back, I'd like to consider this my "practice" night, only because everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.  I had packed all my necessities--notebook, pen, camera, brush, money, sunglasses, chapstick, etc--in my bag and placed it on the floor by my feet, thinking I would need everything within easy access.  The first course of action was for Joaquin to show me some of the pertinent sites around Saginaw, on both the east and west sides of the Saginaw River.  It was a good idea, except only the main streets were plowed, leaving all the side streets plugged with snow. 

Unfortunately Joaquin's K9 squad (a 2-wheel drive Tahoe) didn't handle well in the snow.  Each time he sped up, the back end would slide and spin all over the road.  Every intersection meant a quick stop, slide some, take off, slide more.  This was then repeated over and over as we cruised throughout the city.  Meanwhile I start taking notes, forgetting that writing and riding in a car is not a good combination for me.  Next thing I know my stomach is doing flips. 

While I was thankful for the bulletproof vest, I knew right off the bat it was NOT meant for a size DD.  My chest was crushed with each breath.  By then I was too hot, so I took off my outer vest.  We got our first call, a domestic, and Joaquin raced to the address.  We pulled up to the house and Joaquin advised that it was safe for me to join him. As I opened my door, my boot caught in my bag and I flew head-first into the snowbank with the contents of my bag spilling onto the snow-covered street.  (Thankfully Joaquin was on the other side of the Tahoe and couldn't see any of this.)  By this point I'm feeling more like Barney Fife than Annie Frost.  I gathered my things, brushed off the snow, and acted like nothing happened.  Except now I'm cold and wish I had my vest back on. 

A short time later the domestic was resolved, without an arrest.  We hopped back in the truck, and after a few more slip-and-slides in the snow, my face is a lovely shade of sage green and I confessed to Joaquin I was car sick.  End of ride-along #1 for Barbara "Annie" Marshak.


Saturday Night Ride-Along:  Thank goodness for second chances, amen?!  This time I knew exactly what to expect. 

#1-Skip the bag and stuff only the bare basics in my pockets 
#2-Take Dramamine 
#3-Put the size-B bulletproof vest in the back of the Tahoe until needed
#4-Only write when the car is parked

-The night started out quiet and then around 9 o'clock things got rolling.  Central (a/k/a Dispatch) sent out the calls, one after another. 
-Drunk man sleeping in snowbank; transported to ER. 
-Two-year old with the front section of a computer tower stuck (somehow!) around his neck; transported to ER. 
-Reports of shots fired; UTL. 
-Man with warrants; transported to jail. 
-Reports of shots fired; UTL. 
-10-48 (mental case) reports men in his house with long guns; transported to mental health unit. 
-Domestic--drunk husband kicked in front door; transported to relative's. 
-Fight at the liquor store; drunk female surprises the life out of me with a giant bear hug. 
-Reports of shots fired; neighbor sees young men run down the street. 
-Young man arrives at ER with 2 bullet wounds; follow-up at ER. 

Police call on Saturday night.

Later, when things were quiet Joaquin and Rookie took me to their nightly stop at the drive-through of Tim Horton's, a fast-food bakery and sandwich shop. 

Joaquin pulled up to the speaker and the girls inside said, "Welcome to Tim Horton's...can I take your order?"  That was Rookie's cue.  "Rouw, roouw, rouw, rouw!" he responded, barking out his order.  The girls said, "Hi there, Rookie!  How you doin' tonight hon?  You want your Timbits?" (a/k/a doughnut holes) 

Rookie barked again, "Rouw, rouw, rouw!" (which meant Yes!) We pulled up to the window and the girls inside all come over to the drive-though window to see Rookie.  They hand Joaquin a little box labeled "Rookie bits" for his nightly treat.  Cutest thing I ever saw, promise! 

Then it was back to work...we answered more calls and cruised the city streets while Joaquin told me more about the history of Saginaw.



Joaquin talking about his city. 

  

State computer in the squad car.

 Saginaw was once part of Michigan's big car industry, although many of those plants are now closed.  Joaquin shared what it's been like to be an officer in Saginaw for the past 22 years and how much the city and demographics have changed through the years.   

And so our Saturday night came to an end on a much more successful note.  I didn't fall out of the Tahoe, I didn't get car sick, and I managed to stick it out for the whole 12-hour shift. 

End of PART I - trip to Saginaw, Michigan.

PART II - coming soon!

Barbara "Annie" Marshak,
Reporting from Saginaw, Michigan

"Award-Winning Tales" Released!

It's always a joy to receive a new book in the mail...especially when said book contains one of my stories!  I received that kind of "joy" today when I opened a thick bubble-envelope and pulled out two complimentary copies of Award-Winning Tales, a western anthology complied by R. L. (Becky) Coffield. My story Lost Letters was a Finalist in the short story contest sponsored by Moonlight Mesa Associates.  Following the contest Becky was so pleased with all the stories that she decided to publish a book with selected stories from the 2009 and 2010 contest entries. 

Lost Letters is a fictional story I took from the title of one of my articles I wrote as a regular contributor for the Hidden Heritage feature page in RFD-TV The Magazine.  In Lost Letters the article, I shared the story of Paul LaRoche's adoption papers being lost in the back of his adoptive mother's writing desk for years, thus hiding Paul's true American Indian heritage.  When thinking "what on earth can I write about for a western contest?!", I looked at the two simple words, Lost Letters...and the ideas began to emerge. 

I placed the story in western Minnesota and South Dakota, settings familiar to me, and told the story through the eyes of Marsha, a young college student who always knew she'd been adopted, and Josephine, a woman who had given up her baby girl for adoption...and why.  Becky said the story brought tears to her eyes when she read it, which to me means it touched her heart, and as a writer that is what matters. 

Here's the review Becky received from Shirley Johnson, Senior Reviewer with the MidWest Book Review:
I was not quite sure what I would find on the pages of this book, but I knew it would be good. Looking upon the read I had a hard decision to make. Should I start the read from the beginning or just pick a tale? It was not easy because some of the titles seemed to be calling my name. That is one of the pluses of a book filled with different tales, and one that I truly enjoy. You can read it in one sitting, or read a full story when it fits your fancy.


As I began the read I was taken into the magical words of the authors that stirred many an emotion within me. Not something I expected to happen from this book. I usually only experience this when reading a full novel where I have become totally immersed in a longer storyline. It was a pleasant surprise. The stories were down front and personal. In other words, they were so well written I felt I was part of each story, knew the characters, faced the challenges, and felt the emotions of every story I read. Unbelievable but true.

However, the styles of each tale changed like rapid water, always keeping the Western flare, yet cascading me into the rapids of the moment that the author touched upon. Each story showcased that particular author's ability and talent. The fiber that each author wove into his/her story was like a burst of fresh air as I anticipated what was to be unfolded. I was never disappointed, as each story introduced new characters and new locale, like a fresh new picture being painted while I watched. Each story was different and could stand alone, yet they merged under the western skies as one. It may be a tale of romance, murder, competition, struggles, joy or sadness, each brings just the right dish that fills a banquet table before you. Let the feast begin.

This is an outstanding read. Very well written by authors who truly know how to spin a tale that will grab you and not let go. Highly recommended.

If you are interested in reading Lost Letters or any of the stories in Award-Winning Tales, please visit the website for Moonlight Mesa Associates at http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com/.  I haven't had a chance to read the stories yet, so guess you know what I'll be doing this evening! 

Blessings,
Barbara

5th Annual Winter Writers Retreat

Every Martin Luther King weekend my good friend, author Julie Saffrin, hosts a writers retreat at her cabin in northwestern Minnesota on Dead Lake.  This year four hearty writers made the drive "up north" to work on projects in a variety of genres:

Jannelle Huston - humor writer
Sheri Jacobs - playwright
Julie Saffrin - nonfiction
myself - memoir
Julie's dog, Mick - author in waiting

My focus was to keep working on Michigan & Rookie...Guardians of the Night, the story of Officer Joaquin Guerrero and his K9 Rookie.  Joaquin's intentions in sharing Rookie's story is to bring honor and recognition to all K9 handlers and their partners.  And since Rookie is really the "star" of the book, the idea came to me that I should tell by story by alternating POVs between Joaquin and Rookie.  It sounded like a good idea anyway. 

The first time I sat down to write out a scene in Rookie's POV I managed to come up with three weak sentences and that was it.  Hmmm...  How does a dog think?  What would a dog say?  Maybe I should rethink this grand idea. 

Then again, I shouldn't give up that easy.  After all, we writers are hearty souls that never give up, right?  So I dragged a dozen library books on dogs up to Julie's cabin and took a few notes:

-its estimated dogs can use their noses a thousand to ten thousand times better than humans
-dogs can distinguish between scents to an extraordinary degree
-German shepherds have a high degree of intelligence, if not the highest,
-German shepherds love to work and be active

I studied Rookie's pictures for awhile, talked to Mick for awhile, stared out my window awhile, and tried it again.  Suddenly my 'dog mind' clicked, and away I went, typing out a bunch of scenes from Rookie's POV.  Witty and clever scenes, even.  So maybe, just maybe, this whole dog POV will work after all. 

What do you think, Mick?


That's fine...just don't touch my pillow!

I made some good progress on the manuscript each day.  My favorite part of writing up at Julie's cabin is the fact I can push my work table up against the south windows that face the lake.  It's a great way to spend the day.    

Morning sun out my window



Evening sun out my window.

   

Julie and Mick out my window


   Of course there are certain requirements for every writers retreat:  coffee, great food, and a little wine to close out the day. I'm just saying.



Sheri's fabulous French salad!


 Julie and I have dueling coffee pots: she likes her coffee strong and dark; I like mine weak, flavored, and equal parts coffee and Half & Half. 


Morning and nighttime necessities

  We had some good laughs (Janelle could be a stand-up comedian, seriously..."off with the foot!"--what a story!), shared some "cries of the heart" with each other, and bonded in that special way that women and writers do.  Proud Mom, Sheri's son Kyle Jacobs, a songwriter in Nashville, just married the love of his life, Miss Kellie Pickler, on New Year's Day in Antigua and the couple is featured in this week's People magazine. Once again, our time was blessed. 

Barbara