K-9 Arras was one of the first two dogs that started the Springfield Police Department K-9 program in 1981. He was noted for the excellent use of his nose and his propensity to track and locate hidden suspects. His first captures were two suspects in a stolen van, from a Springfield church, that ran from the State Police near Finn Rock. K-9 Arras tracked the two suspects into the woods and through ankle deep water to find them hiding under some fir trees. His second capture was on Christmas eve day when he tracked and located a burglary suspect hiding under some fir trees on Kelly Butte. He was assigned with Sergeant Carlson for two years, then transferred to Officer Charboneau until he retired.

In 1985, on a hot June afternoon, a 2-year old girl was sexually assaulted outside her apartment and the male suspect fled into a residential area. K-9 Arras and Officer Charboneau were called from home and picked up the track, following it to a nearby group of duplexes. Stopping near a front door, the suspect came out and was arrested. In July, a car was chased from the scene of a robbery, crashed, and three suspects fled the scene on foot. Pursuing officers immediately captured one but the other two ran into the brush. Again, K-9 Arras and Officer Charboneau were called from home and contacted a perimeter officer who was standing next to the millrace. Within seconds, while Officer Charboneau was still talking to the officer, K-9 Arras put his head under water and located a suspect who had been submerged under a piece of plywood only a few feet from the officers. The second suspect was also located by K-9 Arras a short distance away in some berry bushes.

In 1986, two silent alarms were received at close intervals from the K-Mart store. K-9 teams were not working so the officers searched the store both times and found nothing. Shortly after they left a third alarm occurred. K-9 Arras and Officer Charboneau responded to the scene and located the burglar within ten minutes of entering the store. The suspect had been hiding under some empty boxes in a storage room.

K-9 Arras was not only successful in crime fighting but also played a major part in the public's acceptance of the K-9 unit. He went to numerous schools and civic clubs demonstrating his abilities, as well as his friendly demeanor, and showed the citizens of our community the positive aspects of police dogs. The career of K-9 Arras was cut short in 1987 when he was forced to retire for medical reasons relating to a degenerative spinal disease.

K-9 Arras was credited with 81 captures during his career which resulted in recovered property valued at 30,099.00.

Sgt. Roberts with K9 Jasko and Sgt. Carlson with K9 Arras 1981

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