Among the other flat foots at Carolina's Department of Public Safety, the new recruit is a real standout. A native of the Czech Republic, Officer Atos is handsome in a rugged, hirsute sort of way, athletic, bilingual and -- by the way -- four-footed.

In a recent interview, the young German Shepherd dog declined to comment on his appointment as Carolina's first K-9 cop. While Atos is bilingual, the department's spokesperson Randy Young was quick to point out the obvious with his tongue firmly planted in cheek: Atos can't actually speak his native Czech -- or English, for that matter. However, Atos looked like he was much too engrossed in chewing on his Black Kong® to take time to make small talk.

Atos (pronounced with a long A) was born -- and received his initial training -- in the Czech Republic, hence his understanding of commands in Czech. And while a fraction of his duties on campus will be that of affable PR officer, the dog's presence is directly related to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. His specialized training is in explosives detection and tracking.

Public Safety Director Derek Poarch spoke about the connection. Since Sept. 11, he said, his department has paid greater attention to the security of the campus's larger events, even borrowing other law enforcement agencies' dogs when they've been available. "It's my belief," Poarch said, "that we need to do everything that we can before we open a door or gate to make sure the venue is safe. We've taken a number of additional precautions at our large venues," he said, "and those include sweeping the areas prior to events for explosives."

Poarch stressed that there have been no specific threats made toward the University. "But," he added, "Public Safety can't afford to be in a position that something happens and then get prepared." That preparation led to the acquisition of the 2-year-old, 78-pound Atos, whose birthday is June 2. Last fall, $20,420 was approved as a one-time overhead expense covering start-up expenses for a year for the K-9 unit that includes Atos' purchase, off-campus boarding and vehicle. (After he sweeps a sporting venue, for example, he'll wait out the game in his vehicle, just in case his services are needed later.)

Atos' arrival on campus required months of preparation. Capt. Ken Mathias of the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) is experienced in acquiring K-9 patrol dogs. He traveled to Eastern Europe, as he periodically does, and located Atos for the University. After arriving in the States, Atos spent time in Angier at Mid-Atlantic Canine Consultants, where owner R.O. Rogers augmented his initial Czech training.

PARTNERS IN PREVENTING CRIME   Public Safety patrol officer Davoren Carr and her young partner Atos, the explosives-trained German Shepherd, practice a little heeling off Manning Drive.

The four-footer has been at Carolina for two months now. His assigned partner is patrol officer Davoren Carr, and together they've been training in both English and Czech. Carr said Chris Week of RPD conducted their initial explosives training, and she's had four weeks of training with Rogers to learn how to be a handler. And how to speak -- and understand -- the dog's Czech commands, which do not easily roll off the American tongue.

The two will participate in certification trials while going through the process of Police Dog 2 certification for bomb detection and tracking through the U.S. Public Canine Association.

For now, Atos' mission will match that of Public Safety, Young said, and that is to be proactive in addressing safety and to help people feel safe in their community. "He is not trained in pursuit," Young said. "He is not trained to pursue and subdue. He is no way trying to meet those needs. He tracks suspects, missing persons and runs the sweep."

Carr and Atos work in 12-hours shifts, alternating between days and nights. Poarch estimated that "between football and basketball and the large-scale events and speakers, we will have 40 to 50 times a year that we'll use the dog just for that." In addition, Poarch said, he and Carr will be made available to assist others. Atos and Carr are believed to be the only canine explosives-detection unit in Orange County and are quite possibly the only such unit working in higher learning in the state.

It's obvious from brief observation that they're bonded as a dedicated team. Carr said she's been trained on "how to operate with this partner in every situation. We're finding out now where he fits in." And for his part, Atos is doing his own detective work on campus. Recently, Carr said, "He's discovered squirrels and is fascinated by them. He's quite the Gemini." And in spite of his serious training, he is, after all, still a very young dog.