Leo
German Shepherd
Inducted October 1998
Owned by Sgt. Scott Sewell
Nominated by Drs. David Black and J.D. Norris
A partner of Sgt. Scott Sewell, Leo has been fighting crime as a member of the Sulphur Springs police department’s canine unit since 1993. His primary job is as a narcotics dog, but he also is used for protection and control.
With his ability to “alert” officers to the presence of illegal drugs or money that has been in contact with drugs, Leo has helped police catch numerous drug traffickers. He has participated in some of the largest narcotics busts in the state.
One highlight of Leo’s career occurred in October 1996, when he alerted to a passenger van, and a subsequent search revealed more than $2 million hidden in the walls of the van. This was the largest cash seizure ever recovered from a passenger vehicle in the United States, and ultimately led to the breakup of a major drug cartel.
Leo and Sgt. Sewell have been awarded numerous state and national awards for their work in the line of duty. Leo also helps educate the public about the dangers of drugs, through programs such as DARE.
Dr. David Black explains, “Leo has one of the best dispositions of any working dog I have ever dealt with. He is the most even-tempered dog you will ever encounter and loves to deal with people and children as a friendly pet. But when you call on him to do his job, he is totally focused on the task at hand.”
A 7-year-old German shepherd from Holland, Leo is certified to detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin and metaamphetamine. He is certified through four different organizations as a detector dog.
