University Police and Public Safety celebrates retirement of two K-9 officers

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) is responsible for protecting and serving more than 100,000 Penn State students, faculty, staff and visitors at 22 campuses throughout Pennsylvania. In addition to its work with emergency management, behavioral threat management, Clery Act adherence, and physical security, campuses are monitored by sworn police officers who give their service to help keep the Penn State community safe.

One of the various units overseen by University Police is its K-9 unit, which consists of K-9 officer police dogs specially trained in explosive detection, each of which must pass a 12-week course alongside their handlers before officially joining UPPS on campus. Working on a leash and following their handlers’ verbal commands, the dogs will often also assist other local law enforcement agencies in their investigations, and are used to sweep Beaver Stadium prior to football games and throughout assigned events, and at times when VIPs visit campus.

This month, University Police is wishing a happy retirement to two of its longtime K-9 officers: Wail and Rudie.

Wail and Rudie are both Belgian Malinois, which are known for their incredible intelligence and high energy, and both were bred in Holland by a breeder that specifically raises dogs for police work.

Wail, now 10 years old and handled by Officer Josh Quimby, has been with UPPS since July 2015, and Rudie, also 10 years old and handled by Officer Dustin Miller, joined UPPS in September 2013, after completing explosive detection school at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. Both Wail and Rudie are trained to detect approximately 26 different explosive odors that range from commercial grade, to military grade, to homemade explosives.

Wail and Rudie, along with their handlers, are stationed at the University Park campus, but they travel throughout the state assisting other Penn State campuses and law enforcement agencies with various searches. When he’s not working, Wail lives with Quimby and his family and enjoys playing fetch and with Quimby’s two other dogs. Rudie lives with Miller and his family and enjoys playing fetch and running everywhere he goes while exploring and chasing chickens and cats on a 10-acre family farm.

“To Wail and Rudie, working equates to playing, and searching is like playing a game. To watch the dogs and experience their skill and intelligence level is amazing,” said Quimby. “The work they’ve done over the years to help keep the Penn State and surrounding communities safe is to be commended, and they will certainly be missed by the UPPS family.”

UPPS congratulates Wail and Rudie for a job well done and wishes them the happiest of retirements. Wail will remain with Quimby in retirement and Rudie will find a new home with a Spring Township police officer.

Miller will be completing training with Rudie’s replacement, a German shepherd named Olaf. UPPS will be completing the selection process for Wail’s replacement in the coming weeks. and the new dog and Quimby will attend training later this year.

For more information on the services provided to the Penn State community by UPPS, visit police.psu.edu.