Corsicana — In January, our own Janet Jacobs did a story on Corsicana police officer Ronni Phillips and her partner Rambo, the police dog. Since I appreciate the job done by Corsicana’s finest and the rest of our police officers, her story inspired this column. Of course, I also love animals so the two fit right in.

Yes, I know it was Rocky that used the term Yo! Since both characters — Rocky and Rambo — were played by Sylvester Stallone, I decided to take a poetic license. Yo! Ronnie, I hope you don’t mind.

The canine and human became partners in July 2007. The two had their differences, such as what to get for lunch, but soon bonded during their three-week K-9 Academy training near Austin. Officer Phillips was amazed with Rambo’s intelligence. The training was like doggy SWAT school but the heat made it more like doggy SWEAT school. Officer Phillips said that Rambo outsmarted her with his keen sense of smell. Rambo could smell and root out all kinds of narcotics and bad boys. She was pulled through all matter of bushes, trees, and muddy creeks while tracking and gained her trust during their bite attack training. If Rambo could talk, he might say, “Come a little closer, I won’t bite, unless you’re a bad boy or girl.”

Once Rambo thought, “Oh boy, now I can show my stuff and drag you through the mud and muck!” This happened about a month after our heroes completed their training. The two received a call from NCSO about 5 a.m. They needed help in nailing a bad boy. It seems this bad boy was wanted on a felony warrant and had wrecked in a field. The two tracked him down. Officer Phillips wondered where Rambo was taking her. She referred back to their training, and put her trust in Rambo. The intrepid K-9 took her through a creek, and up a muddy embankment. He stopped suddenly near a tree. Lo and behold, the bad boy was hiding under some leaves. After getting their man, Officer Phillips thought they might not have caught the suspect if not for Rambo. I suppose one can run but can’t hide from Rambo! Good dog. Rambo has been used several times to assist DPS, NSCO, and Navarro College. Recently Officer Phillips had to testify for herself and Rambo! They had assisted NSCO, and Rambo alerted on 11 grams of fat (no, just kidding); it was meth in a school zone. The perp was sentenced a $10,000 fine and 65 years in prison. Rambo was upset about the fact that the court couldn’t speak doggy!

One time Officer Phillips had to leave her patrol car to feed the mounted unit horses. Rambo must have gotten jealous, because he drank her coffee! As she walked back to her vehicle, she observed Rambo sitting in the driver’s seat, and peering over the steering wheel. He must have been upset because he couldn’t get a doggy driver’s license. It was then that Officer Phillips noticed her coffee was not in the cup holder. She noticed the empty cup in the back seat where Rambo rides. The coffee was not spilled, so she realized Rambo drank it! Rambo was over active that night.

Sometimes Officer Phillips had to leave food in the car when answering a call. When she returned, her food was in the back seat with Rambo. He looked at her as if to say, “How did that get back here? I was taking a nap.”

Rambo slept inside the house during inclement weather. Mr. Phillips awoke, and asked his wife to get the dog out of bed. She mumbled, “What are you talking about?” She thought he was talking in his sleep. Sure enough, there was Rambo snoring away and would not get off the bed.

Alas, the time came too soon for Rambo to seek doggy retirement. Man’s best friend was truly that to Officer Phillips. Because of some medical problems, it was best for Rambo. These days he has the run of five acres at Officer Phillips residence. She feels thankful that the department gave her the opportunity and experience to be Rambo’s partner for three years. Have a nice retirement, Rambo. This writer would like to meet you and shake your paw for a job well done. I’ll be sure and bring you some coffee and donuts!

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Mark Fleischer is a Daily Sun columnist. Want to “Soundoff” on this column? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com.