Knox County, Neb. — There's a new officer patrolling the courthouse in Knox County, and this one's a little different: it has four legs. Knox, a K-9 puppy, is on duty, training to be a crisis response dog. The furry friend will help de-escalate tense situations within the community.

While working with a K-9 crisis unit in Iowa, Knox County Emergency Manager Austin Taylor saw firsthand the incredible impact it had on the community. Now, he's bringing that same support to rural Nebraska! Taylor and local community members have poured their time and money into purchasing a Golden Doodle puppy, with big hopes that it will become a fully trained crisis canine, ready to make a difference.

Knox’s main focus is to attend to first responders dealing with critical calls, major car accidents, and stressful incidents. “We like to have debriefs,” said Taylor. “So, after action report, we would have Knox come in and help law enforcement follow up and provide all involved with some type of support.”

When he's not responding to critical situations, Knox will also be making a positive impact through a variety of other opportunities, including visiting veterans, schools, nursing homes, and courts.

So far Knox has attended puppy class in Yankton, but now, Knox is gearing up for the big leagues! He's is being submitted for a three-week life skills and obedience course In Iowa, and will be followed by some intensive crisis K-9 training unlock his full potential. Taylor said. “One of the things they do is bring in a helicopter and do a landing, they also drive an ambulance, fire trucks, and law enforcement vehicles to come by with lights and sirens and kind of provide a little bit of a chaotic scene so that we have the dog stay in place.

Knox might still be a work in progress, but Taylor says this 7-month-old pup is already making a big impact on the community and shares, “We had a Veteran sitting on the ground with Knox while his other significant other was going through the process of getting paperwork done. I talked to a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) after and she said he needed that. So, It was good to hear that feedback. Even though we're still in the training process, It’s shows you that empowerment, what canines do to us as humans.

The program was made possible through donations. Taylor personally contributed, promising the county board that it would be donation-based. The dog was donated by Midwest Puppies LLC, with an in-kind donation from Modern Woodsmen of America. The Cedar County vet donated services, and Knox County Clerk Jo Fisher also contributed.

“So this program is ultimately funded by donations," said Taylor.