ROBERTSDALE, Alabama -- Meet Meaux.

Robertsdale’s newest police officer is bright-eyed, energetic and eager to learn.

“(Meaux is) doing great so far,” said Justin Williams, who has served as an officer with the Robertsdale Police Department for five years. Meaux and Williams have ridden together on two shifts since Meaux joined the department four days ago.  “She’s doing excellent considering her age.”

Meaux is the first officer of her kind to serve with the Robertsdale Police Department. And it’s not because of her age, even though she is extremely young for a police officer.

Meaux is Robertsdale’s first-ever officer of the four-legged variety. Meaux is a seven-week-old blonde Labrador retriever.

“I’m just excited,” said Sgt. Anthony Dobson. “I’m excited that we have this resource available to us.”

Dobson said he went to RPD Chief Brad Kendrick requesting the canine officer.

“It’s something we’ve kicked around for 12 to 15 years,” Kendrick said. “This is something we can take into schools where we used to rely on the Sheriff’s Department, not only for public relations, but for drug searches. Meaux is just another valuable tool we have in the war on drugs.”

After receiving approval from the Robertsdale City Council, funds to purchase Meaux were taken from drug seizures by the department over the last couple of years. The department has also purchased a Ford Police Interceptor Package SUV which will be equipped to accommodate a K-9 officer.

Meaux was purchased from Crimson Kennels in Killen, Ala., which primarily raises pure-bred Labradors for hunting.

 “I think they were excited for the opportunity to provide a dog for law enforcement,” Dobson said. “This is a first for them, too.”

Unlike German Shepherds, which can be used as attack dogs, or Bloodhounds, which are used for tracking, Labradors are perfect for drug seizures, Dobson said.

“She will be trained to detect marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroine,” he said.

Meaux will also be used as an ambassador for the Robertsdale Police Department.

“She likes people and she is a very friendly dog,” Dobson said. “We can take her into schools and students who are in fifth or sixth grade now will, in a sense grow up with this dog.”

Over the next several months, Williams and Meaux will be working with Rick Pickern, a veteran police officer who now works security up state.

“Essentially Rick will be working to train Meaux and will be training Justin on how to train the dog,” Dobson said.

Meaux, who was named in honor of a friend of Williams, Anthony Komeaux, who recently lost his battle with cancer, will not only work with Williams, but is also being kennel-trained to live with the officer and his growing family. Williams and his wife are expecting a child in just a few short weeks.

Beginning with obedience training, Meaux and Justin will run through an entire course, which will take eight to 12 months before Meaux is ready to be certified as a canine officer. Once trained, Meaux could serve the Robertsdale Police Department for up to 10 years.

Kendrick said in addition to the advantage of raising Meaux from a puppy as part of not only Williams’ family but the RPD family, there is also a cost savings involved in getting a puppy and raising it as opposed to purchasing an adult dog.

An adult, fully-trained dog can cost $5,000 to $6,000, Kendrick said. Meaux was purchased for $500 and will cost about $3,500 to train. Once Meaux is certified, the department will also be able to take advantage of free training through the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department.

All of those costs will be paid for by drug-seizure money, Kendrick said.

“Our only out of pocket expenses will be for the dog’s upkeep,” he said, including food, water and shelter.

The Robertsdale Police Department currently has 12 sworn personnel with the capability of making arrests, Kendrick said, including patrol officers and investigative officers, along with one officer who is currently undergoing Police Academy training. The RPD covers a 25-mile radius within the Robertsdale City Limits and surrounding area.