While dogs across the country visited offices during Friday’s National Take Your Dog to Work Day, Zed, a 6-year-old German shepherd, most every day for the past four years has reported for duty at the post along with trainer, fellow cop, and favorite human Trooper Jordan Romel.

One of 40 canine units in the state, Romel and Zed respond to calls for help from across northern Michigan. The dog’s sharp nose, strength, and relentless zeal to work bring missing people home and criminals to justice, Romel explained during an exhibition of Zed’s prowess at the Alpena post earlier this month.

At a slight signal from Romel, Zed set his nose to work finding drugs hidden at the rear of a vehicle. A search that might have challenged humans was a matter of seconds for Zed, who, upon finding his prize, sat down and looked proudly at Romel.

Though cautious around other humans, the dog adores the trooper, his affection evident in tail wags, dog grins, and bright eyes that plead for the slobber-coated ball given as a reward after a successful find.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Zed, a German shepherd police dog, enjoys a slobbery toy as Trooper Jordan Romel, of the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post, describes the work of police canine teams at the post earlier this month.

“This is what he lives for,” Romel said, holding the moist ball while the dog waited in eager anticipation. “You and I work for a paycheck. He just wants a chunk of rubber. If we could all be so lucky.”

Police work is play for the dog, who works for praise, treats, and the enthusiastic “cheerleader talk” of the trooper, who spent 14 weeks training the dog at a police academy for canine teams.

The work of a police dog — far more serious than simple play — saves lives, however, Romel said.

Zed’s nose picks up any human scent, his eager and sure paws leading Romel through woods or empty buildings to find the lost or the hiding. Dogs can even smell whether dirt has recently been disturbed by a foot, Romel said.

A child lost in the woods can be found by one dog — doing the work of 20 humans — in an hour.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Trooper Jordan Romel, of the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post, prepares police dog Zed for a demonstration hunt for hidden drugs at the post earlier this month.

The dog’s quick nose leads him to drugs and other evidence thrown out a car window and invisible to humans. Zed, called to work in the early hours of April 27 when two armed men fled from police after a break-in and assault in Alpena, found evidence at the scene, Romel said.

Like other police dogs, Zed is trained to chase and hold a subject, clamping his jaws on a limb and not letting go until ordered to do so.

That skill is rarely needed, Romel said. Subjects ready to put up a fight against humans usually quickly submit when the presence of a canine team is announced.

The German shepherd has his own passport. Like many police dogs, Zed was born in Czechoslovakia, known for excellence in breeding dogs born ready to work, and flew to the U.S. on an airplane.

The police dog has been on boats and in the air, gazing out the open doors of a police helicopter, Romel said.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Police dog Zed, of the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post, chews on a ball given as a reward after he detected drugs hidden in a demonstration at the post earlier this month.

Zed spends working hours riding in a specially-built police vehicle designed more for the dog’s comfort than the human’s, gazing happily over Romel’s shoulder when the team is on the road and getting excited when the car stops, knowing he might get to work.

When off-duty, Zed lives with Romel and will, eventually, retire as the trooper’s much-spoiled pet.

Until then, the dog hates days off. Never one to sit and watch a movie with his human, Zed demands games, training, and chances to earn time gnawing on his rubber ball — and, if left to his own devices, will probably end up on the kitchen counter, Romel said.

“He’s not your normal dog,” Romel said. “All he wants to do is work.”

News Photo by Julie Riddle Zed, a police dog with the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post, earlier this month leaps onto a wall at the post at the command of Trooper Jordan Romel.