Northampton County Sheriff Rich Johnston advised county council recently that he’s adding a new deputy to his staff. This one is costing only $1,700 a year. That’s because this new hire is a dog.

His name, appropriately enough, is Boomer, because he can detect explosives. According to the sheriff, suspicious packages are sometimes left at the courthouse’s loading dock. People also sometimes leave briefcases in a hallway or the parking lot. Rather than risking a deputy’s life to check these items, that task will fall to the K-9.

Both the dog and his eight weeks of training are thanks to an anonymous donation from a county resident.

In addition to detecting possible explosive devices, Boomer will also be trained to assist local police in tracking elderly county residents who wander off.

Boomer is a chocolate lab.