Small Town Right Next Door to Minnesota Swears in Police… Cat?
We've all heard of canine police dogs, right? In fact, the first use of canine units in an official capacity dates all the way back to 1899. The mayor of the city of Ghent in Belgium was in a tight spot, as he was faced with an extreme shortage of police officers and no additional money to hire more men to fill the positions needed, So, what did he do? Asked the public for help in donated local dogs to join in on the crime fighting in town, of course. This worked so well, that it became a staple for police training all across the world. These days, you can find our furry canine companions taking down bad guys in the United States, The U.K., the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, and the majority of nations across the planet.
But what about our feline friends? Well, as you know, cats are notorious for being independent, and quite often, aloof, when it comes to human needs. But that's not always the case and one tiny police force just across the Minnesota border as officially bucked the trend, by swearing in its first-ever police cat named Lieutenant Jax.
Meet Lieutenant Jax
Back in August of 2023, a stray kitten was found just outside the doorstep of the Bellville, Wisconsin Police Department. Upon finding him, those at the department decided to, not only adopt him, but make him part of the team. Since then, Jax has served as a support officer for the department and a therapy cat for those in need.
And the support for Lieutenant Jax comes all the way from the very top. Belleville Police Chief Bill Eihelkraut said "He’s just a pleasure to have here. He’s been a help for us, to take our mind off of the all the bad we see."
To learn more about Jax, check out the article from Spectrum News here. You can also watch the YouTube video below.
Story Sources: PPAK K9 Website, Spectrum News Website
[carbongallery id="263723"]
More From KXRB
