K-9 Nerro plays key role in helping keep Cape Girardeau safe

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.(KBSI) — Thanks to the nose of K-9 officer Nerro, approximately 81 grams of suspected methamphetamine and other narcotics were recently taken off the streets of Cape Girardeau.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department thanks Nerro, along with his handler, Officer Deshon Pernell, for the successful detection of the drug paraphernalia.

Pernell discusses how the department’s K-9 units are trained to detect specific odors.

“So, the dogs are trained on a specific odor,” Pernell said. “My dog is trained on narcotics. He’ll demonstrate a series of behavior changes, whether that’s his body posture or breathing pattern, and I have to watch that to know if he’s picking up on that odor.”

During a recent traffic stop, Nerro displayed those changes and alerted Pernell to the presence of narcotics in a vehicle.

“It’s just like any other traffic stop,” Pernell said. “I deploy my dog when we go to the vehicle. He knows what we’re doing. I give him the command to sniff the vehicle, he goes around and sniffs. Once I pick up on those behavioral changes, within the breathing or body posture, I know he’s positively alerted to narcotics.”

Pernell and Nerro have built a strong bond, spending every day together since starting their training.

“We’re both kind of considered rookies starting off in the process together,” Pernell said. “I get to know him, he gets to know me. He’s a little smarter than me, so he catches on a little faster.”

As a lifelong dog lover, Pernell said working with Nerro has been an exciting experience.

“It’s exciting. It’s a lot of hard work. He’s my partner. Day in, day out, he’s with me 24/7,” Pernell said. “But the rewarding part one, I’m a dog guy, but two it’s knowing he can be used as another tool to help the police department.”

Pernell said the community has loved Nerro just as much as he has, and both continue working together to help keep Cape Girardeau safe.