Being a K-9 can be challenging, especially for younger employees.

Monday, April 6, 2020 was a big day for Brody, the newest member of the Bristol, Rhode Island Police Department. His official inauguration ceremony took place on the same day.

The swearing-in ceremony is a very important moment for new members of the community, officially marking the beginning of their new position. But Brody’s swearing in ceremony was on Monday and we all know how Mondays are…

Although Brody was excited to take up his new position, he was more interested in falling asleep than realizing.

The 12-week-old chocolate Labrador puppy managed to sleep through the swearing-in ceremony while his partner, Officer Keith Medeiros, took his place. A K-9 dog slept on a table during the event.

K-9 dog slept through the ceremony on the table
The event took place in Bristol, Rhode Island. The video was streamed live on the official Facebook page of the National Police Agency and quickly went viral.

While Chief of Police Kevin Lynch spoke passionately about the little man, Brody was sleeping peacefully in the station. He slept through the entire event and only woke up briefly to take photos.

Brody’s handler, officer Medeiros, told The Dodo, “He plays really hard, and he sleeps really hard. When he’s not playing, he’s sleeping, which is kind of tough because he sleeps a lot.”

It didn’t seem to matter to anyone that the puppy was sleeping because he looked very comfortable and cute.

The video that was posted on Facebook has since been viewed almost one million times, with people praising the little K-9 for sleeping.

“Better get your rest now, because your work is just beginning. Woof,” commented one viewer.

The K-9 dog is sleeping in the policeman's arms

Chief Lynch said, “This is a very big day for the Bristol Police Department and for our future. As soon as Brody wakes up, we will have a lot of successes ahead, and he is going to be a superstar for the town of Bristol. I can guarantee it.”

Brody is the first Comfort and Therapy dog for the Bristol Police Department under the new initiative to improve the life standard of people in the town, and hopefully become the bridge between the community and the police.

According to the official Bristol Rhode Island webpage, K-9 Brody’s name is a mix of two words, and it has a significant meaning. The ‘B’ represents the town of Bristol, and ‘Rody’ represents Rhode Island. [1]

Boonefield Labradors, a well-known breeder of comfort and therapy dogs in Rindge, New Hampshire, donated him to the town.

K-9 dog sleeps on tiles

At first, the police department thought about bringing a bomb-sniffing dog, but then decided to accept School Resource Officer Medeiros’ proposal about a therapy dog.

Brody’s job will be to meet the community, visit schools and nursing home residents, and help comfort victims of crime.

Therapy dogs help people cope with stress, anxiety, PTSD, and various other emotions, and they play a very important role in the community.

And, it seems that Brody was just what the town of Bristol needed, especially during the Covid-19 period.

Medeiros said, “People are really stressed, especially in law enforcement. Just by walking in the police department with Brody, people immediately smile. They immediately get into a better place. They want to pet him, want to hug him, and it’s just a really good thing.”

The little K-9 officer has a lot of responsibility on his hands, but there is no doubt in my mind that he will handle it flawlessly.

Great things are upon him. He just needs to sleep and rest well.

If you’d like to keep up with little Brody and see more of his adorable photos, you can follow his Instagram page

Welcome to the force, K-9 Brody.

We wish you many happy years on the team filled with lots of treats, belly rubs, and sleeps.