Boulder County’s newest government employees include two dogs.

Ares, a 1.5-year-old German Shepherd, is the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office’s newest K-9 member, and Marlow, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever lab mix, is the newest furry friend hired by the District. Law firm to assist with victim services.

While the two dogs couldn’t be more different in their work, they reflect the continued presence of K-9 support in law enforcement.

‘He’s very good at putting people at ease’

Currently attending the academy, Ares is receiving certification training on patrol and narcotics detection. Meanwhile, Marlow helps victims and children feel more comfortable during trial proceedings.

“This building is a scary place; there are people in it that the victim or witness don’t know, and people in suits will ask really tough questions about things that they really wouldn’t want to talk about if they had an election,” said Chris Merkle, a senior investigator for the DA’s Office. “It’s just to see the impact.” Dogs can eliminate this advantage.”

Merkle’s job involves investigating cases in preparation for trial. Every investigation includes interviewing witnesses, victims and responders about what they saw during the incident.

“We meet with them right before the hearing, tell them the logistics of the hearing and where and when they need to show up. This is usually situations involving Marlow,” Merkle said. “A lot of times when you talk about recidivism in court, it brings up a lot of anxiety. “He is very good at putting people at ease.”

Marlow, who has been in the office since April, comes from the Canine Companion For Independence organization, which provides “service dogs to adults, children and disabled veterans, and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and education settings.” own website. Their dogs cost customers nothing.

Merkle said Marlow was trained when they started working. But they spend about five to 10 minutes a day revising to ensure Marlow stays current in his training.

Marlow’s responsibilities include calming people down, putting smiles on people’s faces, and even leaving a box of tissues on their laps if they need them.

The pup is trained to speak both English and Spanish and has the ability to open drawers, “boop” to alert people, and rest his upper body or chin on someone to calm them down. Marlow is also able to jump on furniture when necessary, barks only on command, and only goes to the toilet when told.