Napa Police Officer Kyle Upchurch is the first to admit he and his partner, Ringo, share a special bond.

“He knows my moods, and I know his,” he said.

Although the two spend their entire work shift in the same patrol car, they never exchange a word. That’s because Upchurch’s partner is a 4-year-old Dutch Shepherd, the latest member of Napa’s K-9 unit.

Upchurch said that from the start in December it was apparent that he and Ringo were a good match.

Ringo replaced Mato, who retired along with his handler, Napa Police Officer Jim Stephenson.

Ringo came from Holland, where he had some police training. He first set his paws on American soil at a kennel in Riverside.

Upchurch said the department had its choice from among several dogs.

“Ringo was our choice based on his work ethic. He has high drive and is more than eager to hit the streets,” Upchurch said. “He also has been trained socially.”

But it’s his sense of smell that makes him an asset to the police force.

Ringo is trained and certified in sniffing out narcotics. He has other talents as well.

“He’s certified in patrol work — like finding the bad guy,” Upchurch said. “He also will react to commands — from me — without a leash.”

Upchurch said Ringo is used to locating someone who may be hiding in a building.

“If he finds the bad guy, he will hold him, not bite him, until I give him a command to back off,” he said. “Having the dog saves us a huge amount of time and manpower if we have to search buildings.”

Ringo is also bilingual, understanding commands in both English and Dutch, Upchurch said.

Ringo not only works with Upchurch, he also lives with him along with his wife and three boys, 10-year-old twins and a 6-year-old.

Like any other canine, Ringo loves to play.

“But there is no doubt he knows when it is time to work. He knows my voice and my commands,” Upchurch said.

There are no doggie treats when it comes to rewarding Ringo. “He has his chew toy, and he gets tons of praise for a job well done,” he said.

Ringo did not come cheap, he cost $8,500.

Although he lives with Upchurch, the police department pays for his food, training and vet bills.

Ringo may have a police badge, but as of now, he does not have a bullet-proof vest.

The department is asking for donations to purchase the vest, which costs around $2,000.

“We put him in dangerous situations all the time. We don’t know if the bad guy hiding inside a building is armed with a knife or a gun,” Upchurch said. “We also send him in first.”

Napa Police Sgt. Debbie Peecook, who has been a Napa cop for more than two decades, had her K-9 Max for seven years before he retired three years ago.

“The K-9 unit is a very important part of the department. They provide officer safety and can perform duties impossible for a human, such as detecting drugs and other contraband,” she said. “Any officer that has had a K-9 really understands that special bond between the dog and its handler.”

Anyone interested in donating to Ringo’s bullet-proof vest may call Peecook at 257-9256.