Meet Buky, Stephenville’s newest crime fighter, public servant

Bruner City K9 FEATURE — Bruner Auto Family and others throughout the community have come together to provide for Bucky, a K9 certified in criminal detention, narcotics detection and more, who is ready to begin serving the community of Stephenville.

By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (March 7, 2017) — Community leaders in business, secondary education and the city gathered Tuesday to meet Stephenville’s newest cop.

Buky, a 3-1/2 year old import from The Netherlands, is the newest member of the Stephenville Police Department and is partnered with officer Gary Roberts to help fight crime and protect citizens.

Handler Gary Roberts and his partner, Buky, are ready to protect the citizens of Stephenville in ways they have never been served before. || TheFlashToday.com photo by BRAD KEITH

The K9 is certified in narcotics detection, criminal detention and more, and received the warmest of welcomes to the community – a free Tahoe sponsored by the Bruner Auto Family, free health care provided by Greens Creek Animal Hospital, food for life from Pet Supplies Plus and much more from the Stephenville Kennel Club and other volunteers.

Mayor Kenny Weldon was among the city leaders and many others at the Bruner Motors Chevrolet Store for the welcome reception for Buky.

“It’s great to see the community come together to be able to do this,” said Weldon, who noted that during his Air Force career he certified dogs in bomb detection, narcotics detection and more. “A new relationship is being established in our community between a handler and a dog that we will be exposed to in a way that is very special. It’s a relationship that will serve this community well into the future.”

Weldon delivered a message to local drug dealers and users.

“If you harbor, sell or use drugs in this community, you better stop now,” said the mayor. “Because we will find you in ways you are not prepared for. We are upping the game, and that is very good for our community.”

Doctor F. Dominic Dottavio, president at Tarleton State University, brought Tarleton police chief Matt Welch along to meet Roberts and Buky.

“To see such partners as these come together, these are special moments that truly make things happen in this community,” said Dottavio. “It’s an indication of what is special about this community.

“At Tarleton, first and foremost, we want to provide education in a safe environment,” the university president added. “And this is going to help us in providing that.”

Dr. F. Dominic Dottavio, president of Tarleton State University, appreciates that Bucky will help in providing education in a safe environment.

Roberts, along with his wife and daughter, have welcomed Buky as a member of their family. The handler took a six-week course training in criminal detention and narcotics with Buky.

“Buky lives with us and is getting used to his new environment, but my wife and little girl love him like I do and he is part of the family,” Roberts said.

Greg Bruner of Bruner Auto Family thanked everyone involved in the joint effort to welcome and provide for Buky.

Greg Bruner and Bruner Auto Family donated the Tahoe that will serve as a second home and means of transportation for Bucky.

“This has been in the works with sponsors and the community for well over a year,” Bruner said. “It isn’t something that just happened to come together.”

Weldon publicly appreciated the efforts of police chief Jason King, who took the initiative to seek help with everything needed for Buky to prosper in his new role serving the City of Stephenville.

“Chief King, you are an awesome leader for this community, and I thank you,” Weldon said. “You are an innovator who doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to meeting the safety needs of our community.

“This is going to change Stephenville forever in a very positive way.”