GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Lawrenceville Police Department has welcomed its newest team member, K-9 Rowan—a 7-month-old Goldendoodle with a knack for wagging away stress and spreading joy.
K-9 Rowan isn’t your typical police dog. Instead of chasing bad guys, Rowan’s job is to comfort, connect, and bring emotional relief to those who need it most.
“We come across a lot of victims and witnesses that have experienced traumatic events,” Lt. Dena Pauly, who spearheaded the arrival of Rowan said. “Once the scene is safe, we can take Rowan in there and help calm the situation.”
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Whether it’s offering a reassuring presence to someone in crisis, calming first responders after a tough day, or simply bringing smiles to schoolchildren, Rowan is here to remind everyone that a little love goes a long way.
“We’re excited to introduce K-9 Rowan as part of our dedicated mission of building a safer Lawrenceville through community engagement and professional police services,” said Chief John Mullin in a statement. “This program demonstrates our dedication to meeting the emotional and mental health needs of both our officers and our citizens.”
Rowan’s arrival marks the launch of the department’s first Community Wellness Dog program, a step toward addressing mental health and building bonds between law enforcement and the community.
Officer Quolettea Cole is Rowan’s handler, and she says she welcomes new ways to address mental health issues.
“I have a personal loss from suicide,” Cole said. “So anything I could do to help in lowering those numbers then I was willing to do it.”
The program was made possible through partnerships with animal rescues Tails of Hope and Coco’s Cupboard, Inc.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Snow, freezing rain, sleet and rain: What to know about wintry mix threat for north GA
- Mattress and furniture factory goes up in flames in Clayton County
- Kemp announces weather preparations across Georgia ahead of winter storm
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2025 Cox Media Group
