SAN ANGELO, Texas — Meet San Angelo Police Officer Tanner Tumlinson and his partner, Vader.
They work together at the San Angelo Police Department and their days are spent fighting crime and protecting the city - but many hours are spent training before this pup got to wear the badge of honor.
"Collect a group of dogs, work with those dogs, and then choose a dog out of that selection group to become a officer," Tumlinson said.
The training doesn't stop there for this four-legged officer. Vader had to work with Tumlinson for an additional for three to six months - time spent learning the ropes and more about the area he is in charge of protecting.
"When a dog is selected typically it will stay at the dog center for about a month and work with the dog doing narcotics training and apprehension training," Tumlinson said.
K-9 officers will work alongside the officer until he or she retires or moves on.
That itself builds a remarkable bond, but time spent together outside of the job does, too. The SAPD doesn't have kennels, so every day and every night, the dogs get to go home with their partner and that’s where the true friendship is built.