Written by Mackenzie Sweat

As classes let out, crowds of students swarm UTC’s campus, their minds heavy with the weight of homework or homelife. A sight stops them in their tracks, a furry four-legged animal with a shiny gold badge on her chest. This is Sophie, the new University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Police Department K9 therapy dog. As students approach Sophie instantly, the energy shifts. What were anxious frowns, are now smiling faces and calm minds, just by petting her soft fur.

Sophie, a 13-month-old lab, started her role on Nov. 3 alongside UTC Police Corporal Aaron Bayer, who is responsible for community engagement. Sophie has been in her position for just under a month, and Bayer has already seen students react very positively to her. 

 “We went from being nobodies to… students calling and asking for us, and people stopping by the police department just to see her (Sophie). Students remember her name. They see us on campus now, and they’ll come running toward her,’’ said Bayer. He notices what kind of impact Sophie has had on campus.

The goal for Sophie at UTC was not only to provide an outlet for students but also to strengthen the connection between campus police and students, helping them feel more comfortable and normalizing police presence on campus. “I noticed there was a huge need for increased community engagement and relations. We don’t relate well with our students. We’re not part of the educational process here; we’re kind of the outsiders’’, said Bayer.

Bayer aims to change students’ perceptions of police on campus, and work with Sophie to bridge the gap between students and the UTC Police Department. ‘‘Chief, let me run with it,’’ said Bayer. “Just because we’re there doesn’t mean somebody’s in trouble or something’s wrong. It just means that we want to be visible and approachable.” 

When Sophie isn’t walking around campus, you might find her at the UTC Counseling Center, where she attends to students and supports the counselors. “The counselors need an outlet too,’’ said Bayer. 

Bayer had never set out to work with a therapy dog when he started his police career, but he always had an interest in being a canine handler. Growing up, his mom was a vet tech and spent most of his childhood in an animal hospital. “I get my love of animals from her,’’said Bayer. 

If it wasn’t for Sophie, Baylor would have left law enforcement a long time ago in search of a new career. “I thought I was completely done with it (police enforcement) for good. I was planning on becoming a realtor, of all things.” He expresses how life has a way of coming in full circle. “I feel like getting her has really made me see that. And I’m so happy to be here, and I’m so happy to have her.’’ 

For students, Sophie provides comfort and calm to those who are stressed, and for Baylor, she helps campus police feel more connected to students. Together, they are a familiar face and a friend for both students and faculty at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

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