Puppy named after Jimmy Ryce’s late mother starts her police career
The Miami Police Department’s newest member ran into the lobby Wednesday tugging on a leash and vying for attention.
The Jimmy Ryce Center, a nonprofit organization that advocates for child safety, donated Claudine, a playful, 3-month-old bloodhound, to the department’s Special Victims Unit. She’s named after the late mother of Ryce, the Redland child who was abducted, raped, and murdered in 1995.
As Miami Police’s first bloodhound since the ’90s, Claudine will soon begin training to track missing children and adults, said Police Chief Jorge Colina. Bloodhounds have 60 times the ability to track people on scent compared to German shepherds, he said.
“This is a resource that we will now have that’s going to help us accomplish our mission and save lives,” Colina said.
In September 1995, Jimmy, a 9-year-old Naranja Elementary School student, was last seen getting off a school bus near his home. Hundreds joined police in the search, traversing through South Dade groves on foot, horseback, and all-terrain vehicles. No bloodhounds were used.
“Any bloodhound could have tracked that,” Lynn said.
Claudine and Don Ryce founded the Jimmy Ryce Center the year after their son’s death, said spokeswoman Terri Lynn. The center has donated more than 600 bloodhounds to law-enforcement agencies, she said. Each bloodhound costs $1,000.
The puppy’s name was a surprise to Don Ryce. He said the puppy shares the eagerness and drive of his wife, who died from a heart attack at 66 in 2009.
“She would be particularly pleased that her name has been used for such a fine little pup,” said Ryce, 75.
Although he hopes Claudine won’t have to use her talents to find a missing child, Ryce said he is grateful the puppy could help save lives. His voice shook as he thanked the department and remembered a quote from his late wife.
“Every time a child was saved by one of these wonderful animals, it was like getting a hug from Jimmy,” he said.
Detective Sarah Mendoza-Pujols became the puppy’s handler last week.
“She’s already attached to me, so I’m very excited for what’s coming,” Mendoza-Pujols said.