They worked together to solve crime, hunt down evil, catch bad guys and save lives, and – an equally important task – they helped create a necessary connection between police officers. police and the community in general.

“Mattis is the best dog in the history of our police department. The dog that caught the most bad guys, he was an extraordinary dog ,” Sgt. Tappan, a former US Marine and a pastor, told The Epoch Times .

A recipient of the Purple Heart award, Mattis retired more than a year ago after doing some “amazing things” during his career. The dog has helped recover $3 million in drug seizures, made 20 successful tracks and assisted in more than 200 arrests during his career, according to the American Kennel Club. Mattis even inspired Tappan to write two children’s books – ” My Dog Mattis ” and ” My Dog Mattis and the Barefoot Bandit ” – in which he tells the story of finding the special dog. their differences and their many incredible adventures.

“I just love telling people about my wonderful dog,” the officer said . Along the way, the dog caught many bad guys and saved many lives. The dog did a wonderful job.”

Meet Mattis

When Tappan went to choose a police dog in 2016, he was looking for a Belgian Malinois, the new trend among military and law enforcement personnel. Tappan was initially interested in a smaller dog, because he himself was only 1m67 tall. So when he first saw the chubby 2-year-old German shepherd (named Caymen at the time), he thought, “There’s no way I want that dog.”

Soon, though, Mattis’s heart and determination — and “God-given ability” — impressed Tappan. When Mattis performed tests to measure things like determination during a chase, persistence to find something the dog couldn’t see, and the dog’s strength and bite , Tappan immediately knew he had found his dog.

“Mattis was a very clear choice,” Tappan said. I can’t say ‘no’ to the dog. And I’m really glad I didn’t.”

Mattis stole Tappan’s heart, and became his trusted partner and closest friend. In a short time, the dog helped Tappan catch criminals and solve crimes, and left a good impression in everyone’s hearts.

‘Best job in the world’

Tappan started police work because he wanted to “represent something greater than himself.” And law enforcement fits perfectly with this aspiration.

“You get to serve others and help them during their worst times,” he said . And you can be the light in those times. Every day I want to help someone make their life better, and protect good things.”

After 15 years of defending what is right, Tappan continues to do the job he loves. Tappan started working with patrol dogs about six years ago. At that time, he saw a great opportunity: working at K9 allowed him to connect with the public in a completely new way.

Tappan says people don’t typically approach a police officer, but having a dog tends to spark conversations and dispel apprehension. “I like talking to people and trying to show the human side of police officers. And when I got a dog, I realized it was an extremely wonderful bridge ,” he recalled.

Mattis, the second dog Tappan worked with, made the officer’s dream come true. Dual-duty patrol dogs are trained to detect narcotics — including meth, marijuana, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy — tracking good guys and bad guys, finding, protecting and apprehending suspects. The dog not only made the community safer, but also gave Tappan some of the best experiences of his life.

“Mattis knows what I want him to do before I ask him to do it,” Tappan said. It was a great collaboration when we worked together. This is 100% the best job in the world.”

Loyalty and courage

During a typical workday, Tappan and Mattis will be on duty, ready to attend to any emergency that arises. Tappan will train Mattis in the meantime, teaching the dog search and exercise exercises. Tappan challenges Mattis to only search with his nose, in case they need to find each other and can’t see where the other has gone. When there is no emergency situation, both will walk through public areas, actively search for drugs or interact with the community. They are always together.

Since the beginning, Mattis has demonstrated loyalty and courage. A year into their work together, the pair chased down two suspects who had jumped over a 30-foot barrier wall. Tappan was about to jump, but at the last moment he stopped when he discovered how high the wall was. However, Mattis flew over the wall.

“I still remember the look on Mattis’s face when the dog fell down the 30-foot wall,” Tappan recounted . “It felt like an eternity as Tappan watched his teammate freeze in the air. His thoughts He pressed: Should he have put a leash on Mattis? He should have restrained Mattis before the dog jumped. He felt total responsibility for Mattis’s life as he watched his dog fold and fall. to the ground.

Mattis landed on the ground and tackled one of the suspects. After chasing and holding on to the other person, the dog collapsed to the ground. Mattis’ courage and tenacity left him with a lacerated liver, serious injuries and serious internal bleeding. Tappan recalled: “I was afraid that the dog might die, which caused me extreme pain.”

After taking Mattis to the vet, Tappan helped lift his dog onto the operating table, unsure if he would survive. Once Mattis was stable, Tappan remained by his side, hoping he would be able to serve as a police dog again.

“I sat in the crate with Mattis for 24 hours straight because the dog didn’t want me to leave ,” Tappan said. As soon as Tappan left, the veterinarian called him back because Mattis was “going crazy” without Tappan by his side. When they pulled away from each other, the dog was extremely scared and the vet feared he would tear his stitches or injure himself. But when Tappan was nearby, the dog slept peacefully.

A month after his injury, Mattis was able to return to work. Working together again, the relationship between the two became even deeper. Their work has just begun.

Narrow the gap

For his bravery and for his injuries while on duty, Mattis was awarded the Purple Heart, and the dog gained quite a bit of fame. The dog’s name is also known to more people.

During his service, not only did Mattis win the Purple Heart, the dog and Tappan also collected a host of other awards and honors for dogs and handlers, including the Dog and Handler Award. American Kennel Club 2021 for Outstanding Dog. According to the American Kennel Club, they have appeared on “Entertainment Tonight,” “Good Morning America,” “Fox & Friends,” “Live PD” and “True Crime.” Mattis appeared in the HBO series “Watchmen,” and the dog and Tappan appeared on A&E’s “American Top Dog,” winning the episode and going on to compete for Champion.

Over the years, Mattis and Tappan have met some incredible people together. And along the way, the famous dog and his owner have amassed thousands of followers on Instagram and millions on TikTok . Along with social media and public appearances, Tappan and Mattis have participated in many charitable causes, raising more than $100,000 for Coins4CURE to help fight childhood cancer and support Supports law enforcement programs such as the Georgia Police K9 Foundation and the K9 Hero Project.

In fact, relationships with the community are what Tappan values ​​most in his work with Mattis. Together, he feels that they have been able to bring people together — bridging the vast gap between citizens and the police officers who serve them.

Retirement and the Future

Tappan retired Mattis due to an injury to the dog’s hind leg. However, after retiring, the dog still followed Tappan downstairs every morning, and then “cried” at the door when Tappan went to work without him. Tappan was “heartbroken” for a while because he went to work without Mattis’s support.

To this day, Mattis still wakes up early with Tappan and follows him down the stairs, showing love to his master and receiving affectionate caresses. The two make videos or appear in public together, which brings them a lot of joy.

Tappan currently has three German shepherds at home, including Mattis. However, the relationship between him and Mattis is deepest. “Mattis follows me everywhere,” Tappan said. If I’m anywhere, the dog will be there.”

Sgt. Tappan and Mattis have worked side by side for many years. Today, they remain good partners and are dedicated to “working to make the world a little brighter.”

Watch Mattis in action: The Scent Challenge