The newest member of the Laguna Pueblo Police Department keeps his head to the ground. His name is Jimmy and he is a 40-pound bloodhound with a knack for solving crimes, including child abductions. The Jimmy Ryce Center donated the bloodhound to the New Mexico tribal police department to help with efforts to protect children.
“People are really jazzed that the police department and agencies will have a dog dedicated to tracking people,” said Laguna Pueblo Police Sgt. Steve Chavez. “What a blessing. Truthfully, we couldn't have gotten this off the ground without the Jimmy Ryce Center.”
The Jimmy Ryce Center was started by the parents of a 9-year-old boy who was kidnapped at gunpoint after getting off a school bus on Sept. 11, 1995. Jimmy Ryce was taken to a trailer, raped and was fatally shot in the back as he tried to run out of the trailer.
“Looking back on what happened to Jimmy, an AMBER Alert wouldn't have saved him,” said Don Ryce, Jimmy's father. “He only had a few hours to live and I have since found out about bloodhounds and their amazing capabilities.”
Don Ryce and the Jimmy Ryce Center have given more than 300 bloodhounds to law enforcement agencies to help strengthen their AMBER Alert plans. Ryce said he is glad that the Laguna Pueblo Police will be able to do more to find missing and abducted children. “I think it's great,” he added.
The Laguna Pueblo Police Department has never had a bloodhound or a canine unit. Detention Supervisor Billy Emanuel has worked with dogs in the military and will receive training on using bloodhounds for searches. Jimmy is also the newest member of the Child Abduction Response Team that includes police departments from the Zuni, Acoma and Laguna Pueblo Tribes.
“The Pueblos are a very tight knit community and this will show that we are offering more protection and that we are looking out for the community,” said Sgt. Chavez.
Don Ryce was invited to visit the Tribe in May to help with the training and to be honored by tribal leaders. “I want him to realize how grateful we are,” added Chavez.
The Jimmy Ryce Center has more bloodhounds to donate to law enforcement agencies. More information can be found at www.jimmyryce.org.