Southpinellas: Friendly drug-sniffer was 'pet and a true partner'

Friendly drug-sniffer was 'pet and a true partner'

For 10 years, a golden retriever named Keylo distinguished himself as a campus police dog.

By LENNIE BENNETT

ST. PETERSBURG -- Keylo was not the first, but he was the most venerable campus police dog in Pinellas County, and on Jan. 9, the drug-sniffing golden retriever with the golden nose and good heart died peacefully at 14 after a decade of public service.

"He was probably the first really recognized dog in our program," said Barbara Baugher, Keylo's handler and the officer who oversees the canine program of the Pinellas County Campus Police Department. "The dog had an absolutely fantastic personality. Not only would he look for drugs, he loved people."

The program began in the 1980s. At that time, dogs were only trained to find drugs. Keylo was among that first generation, joining the force 1988. Other dogs had names like Buster and Sparky.

"The chief and myself named him to sound like a kilo of drugs," Baugher said. "We spelled it differently so that when we wrote the reports, he wouldn't be confused with the drugs."

Today, the six-dog force is crosstrained to identify both drugs and weapons. One of them also can sniff out bombs. They and their handlers, all officers with Campus Police, traverse the county, visiting its 143 schools. Generally, the visits to elementary schools are for educational programs, not the searches that are done in the middle and high schools.

"We call them random, unannounced checks," Baugher said. "And we visit all middle and high schools as often as possible. Unfortunately, a good amount of the time, we find something."

Keylo, said Baugher, was exceptional among his peers in several ways. Most of the dogs are Labrador retrievers "and they're a working dog more on task," she said. "But Keylo would roll over and want everyone to pet him before he went to work."

She said the breeds chosen for the program are considered nonthreatening to children. She acknowledged the dichotomy of the dogs' position, ingratiating themselves to students while possibly exposing them to serious disciplinary action.

"Our whole philosophy behind the canine program is as a deterrent," Baugher said. "Over the years, the children have come to realize that the dogs are coming into the school randomly and maybe that will stop them from bringing things to school that are dangerous. Fortunately, we've never had a major drug bust. It's very rare that we find enough of a drug to go beyond a charge of possession to one of distribution on campus."

She said they find more drugs -- mostly marijuana and some cocaine -- than firearms.

All the dogs live with their handlers. Baugher, 37, who is married with three children, has two of them in her care now. "I love them all, but Keylo was my pet and a true partner. I got him before I was married, before I had children. He lived through my life. He wasn't just a drug dog."

Keylo retired in 1998 with health problems. He was in a lot of pain at the end of his life, unable to walk, and Baugher said she felt it was best to have him euthanized. He died without heirs.

"The decision was difficult," Baugher said. "But he had a great life. The affection never ended."