Highland Beach resident Debbie Muller (left) donated money to help police acquire certified therapy dog Sparky, whose handler is Brittney Jarboe (right). Sparky’s main job will be to help police put people at ease. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Rich Pollack
Sparky, Highland Beach’s new police therapy dog, isn’t just trained to heel, he’s also trained to help heal when a wagging tail can put someone at ease.
The latest in a number of certified police therapy dogs now making their way to police departments in Ocean Ridge, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and other area communities, Sparky is a magnet, attracting police officers and town employees who can’t wait to offer a friendly hand to sniff.
Soon the unassuming 2-year-old schnauzer-terrier mix and his handler and new best friend, Brittney Jarboe, will be available to assist police officers who come across residents or visitors who could benefit from Sparky’s comforting and supportive presence.
“He can be an icebreaker,” said Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann. “He can put people at ease when they talk to us.”
What police departments locally and across the country are finding is that police therapy dogs can reduce anxiety and stress and actually encourage communication.
In Highland Beach, with its large senior population, Sparky will be called on to follow up on welfare checks, where officers are often called to make sure a resident living alone, for example, is OK, according to Hartmann.
Sometimes those residents might just need a friendly voice — or in Sparky’s case an oscillating tail — to make them feel more at ease.
Sparky will also be used to help calm victims of a crime or an accident and to provide comfort to someone dealing with the loss of a family member.
“Therapy dogs just put people at ease when they’re in a situation,” Hartmann said. That includes police officers as well.
In Highland Beach, Sparky will have an added benefit. Since town police officers accompany the fire department on many of the calls, Sparky can also be available to help calm those going through medical emergencies — as well as their worried loved ones.
Sparky will be out and about often. He’s already been in attendance at a Town Commission meeting and will be at town events.
“This is a great way to connect with our community,” Hartmann said.
Sparky’s arrival in Highland Beach came partially through the generosity of resident and dog lover Debbie Muller, who helped pay for some of the program’s startup costs.
“The chief told me about the program and I was all for it,” said Muller, who tripled the donation that had originally been asked.
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