By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
The Liberty County Pct. 2 Constable’s Office has a new officer patrolling the streets. Golyo, a 2-year-old German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois hybrid, had his first day on the job Monday, Aug. 5.
Golyo was purchased for $10,000 from Worldwide Canine Inc. of Boerne, Texas, where he has undergone training for the last eight months. The money used for the purchase was confiscated during drug seizure cases, so Liberty County taxpayers did not have to contribute a dime, said Pct. 2 Deputy Constable John Tucker, who is assigned as Golyo’s handler.
Golyo was among 57 trained dogs that were going through the program at Worldwide Canine Inc. at the time he was selected by Tucker.
“One of the instructors said it best. If you are dancing with a woman and stepping all over her feet, you aren’t in step together and need to pick another. It was like that with Golyo. We just flowed together well,” Tucker said. “He proved to be the one.”
Golyo is specifically trained to alert to methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana, even in concealed compartments of vehicles.
“If there is dope, he will find it,” Tucker said.
Golyo’s arrival in Liberty County will be welcome to law enforcement officers on the south end of the county, which often goes underserved, according to Pct. 2 Constable Les Hulsey. Golyo is one of four K-9 officers is use in Liberty County; the other three are under the supervision of the sheriff’s office.
“In the past, every time we have needed a drug dog, we’ve had a hard time getting one. Usually DPS (Texas Department of Public Safety) will helps us out, but they have to come out of Jefferson County. This will give us more access,” Hulsey said.
Hulsey estimates that half of all cases handled by the constable’s office involve drugs.
“Oftentimes, even if it is a theft, it is linked to drugs. They are all tied together,” he said. “If we find drugs in a car and money is in there, too, we can seize the money and the car.”
In addition to sniffing out drugs, Golyo will serve as a backup to Tucker.
“He is trained in handler protection, so if I get in a scuffle on the side of the road, he will come to help me,” Tucker said.
Golyo gets reassuring head scratches from his handler, Pct. 2 Deputy Constable John Tucker. 
Pct. 2 Deputy Constable John Tucker uses the agency’s new K-9 officer, Golyo, to search for drugs during a routine traffic stop. Had the dog found drugs, he would have alerted the deputy constable to its location. 
Pct. 2 Deputy Constable John Tucker and K-9 Golyo search a vehicle along US 90 near Raywood. The K-9 officer is expected to be a valuable resource for the constable’s office as Golyo is trained to sniff out narcotics.