Maroa residents that have seen Police Chief Patrick Siemsen (seam-sen) out with his yellow lab Lucy have been introduced to his unique approach to community policing.

The veteran law enforcement official has been on the job in the small Macon County community for a little more than a week and told Regional Radio on the WHOW Morning Show Lucy provides a great opportunity to simply meet and interact with people.

After years and years in various roles in law enforcement in Homewood, Illinois, Chief Siemsen found himself as a dog handler and explains his perspectives on the impacts a dog can have on people completely changed.

Chief Siemsen explains the program, 'The Paws and Stripes College', that Lucy comes from is so popular they cannot train enough dogs for the demand that is across the country for these rescue animals.

Chief Siemsen envisions Lucy being in the school system a lot. He encourages the community if they see Lucy out with him to come up and give her lots of pets and he hopes they will engage with him as well.