Newest Members of the Police Force is Under Two Years Old

August 27, 2019 9:00 AM
by Candice Cobarrubias

He was born October 26, 2017, in a town called Bruay Sur L’Escaut, France, about two hours northeast of Paris near the France/Belgium border.

Today, he’s a year-and-a-half old, weighs 70 pounds, and is covered in hair. Meet K9 Officer Norton. Under command of his human partner Officer Garcia, K9 Norton is very energetic and always eager to work. His breed is listed as a Chien De Berger Belge, which loosely translates to Belgian herding dog. This breed of dog is still used to herd livestock, but they have also proven to be well-suited for protection and police work.

These French dogs differ slightly from a traditional looking Belgian Malinois police dog, as French dogs have a pretty massive coat of hair. Officer Norton also understands French. In fact, his commands are given in French, and he even has a passport. K9 Norton is very friendly (unless you’re a criminal), loves meeting new people and is great around kids. He has to be the center of attention. His favorite game is fetching a frisbee. On his off time, he enjoys hanging out with Officer Garcia’s other dogs, Zuel (Blue-Nosed Pit Bull) and Titus (Cane Corso).

Officer Garcia has been an Officer since March 2013 and joined the Santa Monica Police Department in June 2015. Officer Garcia previously worked in the Downtown Service Unit prior to becoming a K9 Police Officer. On his off time, Officer Garcia enjoys taking his dogs out on hikes and the dog beach, going on road trips, watching movies and spending time with family.

Authored By

Candice Cobarrubias
Captain