Deputy Paul and K9 Eddy. Photo by Brittany North

By Brittany North - Boreal Community Media - May 27, 2025

When Deputy Paul first picked up Eddy—an untrained, energetic German Shepherd–Malinois mix just imported from Slovakia, he had no idea how much the dog would come to mean to him. Eight years later, their bond is one of trust, deep affection, and hard work.

“I can’t believe how fast time’s gone,” Paul told Boreal Community Media. “Eddy didn’t even know how to sit when I got him. For the first two weeks, he never sat down once. I thought I was in way over my head.”

But that changed quickly. The two entered an intensive 14-week training program, ten-hour days, five days a week, with about a dozen other handlers. “That’s where our bond really started,” Paul says.

Since middle school, becoming a K9 handler had been Paul’s dream, though it seemed out of reach in a small county without a K9 program. But when the county board expressed interest in starting one, and the sheriff asked for interested volunteers, Paul hesitated, then quickly changed his mind. “The very next day, I emailed and said, ‘I’m in.’ From there, it all moved fast.”

Eddy moved in, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. “He’s more than a partner, he’s family. We’ve lived so much life together, both on and off duty.”

Eddy is certified (and recertified annually) by both the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) and the National Police Canine Association (NPCA). Between these two certifications, his skills include identifying methamphetamine, heroin, and ecstasy, along with patrol tasks like handler protection, building searches, and apprehension. “I still get nervous every time. But Eddy just knows the job and gets to work,” Paul shares. In these annual recertifications, Eddy has done extraordinarily well. Eddy has earned two awards over the years, most recently for room searches and overall performance. “He’s a small-town dog amongst the best from all over, other small-town units and urban units.”

Outside of work, Eddy has become a community celebrity. Friendly and social, he’s a regular at school visits, youth events, local programs, and simply walking around town with Paul. “People expect a vicious TV police dog. Then they meet Eddy and fall in love, and he loves the attention,” Paul laughs. When off duty, Eddy loves playing outside. “He knows the sound of my coffee cup lid clicking; it means it’s time to go outside and play,” Some of Eddy’s favorite activities include swimming after a floating Kong toy in the lake, playing tug, finding a good stick, and getting pets from new friends in downtown Grand Marais.

Paul even has Eddy’s paw print tattooed on his leg. “It’s his left paw, so he’s always running with me. I didn’t do it for the K9 part. I did it because he’s part of my life.”

As Eddy nears retirement, the future of the K9 program is uncertain. “We don’t use him as often as in bigger cities, but when he’s needed, he’s ready. The groundwork is here if someone wants to continue.” (Recently, K9 Eddy located a suspect hiding in an abandoned building.) 

Paul won’t be taking on another dog. “I’m near the end of my career. But Eddy’s not going anywhere. That was the agreement from the start—he stays with me, no matter what.”

Looking back, Paul knows this partnership has defined his time in law enforcement. “I couldn’t imagine my career—or my life—without him. This has been the highlight, without a doubt.”