~ Idaho Falls Police Department Welcomes New Therapy Dog, Molly

The Idaho Falls Police Department has recently added a new member to their team - Molly, a two-year-old golden retriever who is training to become a police therapy dog. Molly has been partnered with Officer Eric Lyke, who serves as a school resource officer at the Alturas Academy schools.

Molly's previous owner, Brian Walker, who was the director of the 3B Juvenile Detention Facility, started her training and even earned her Basic Canine Good Citizen certification. She was utilized within the facility to work with juveniles and staff. When Walker retired, he wanted Molly to continue serving in a similar capacity and offered her to the Idaho Falls Police Department.

The department adopted Molly and placed her with Officer Lyke, with the support of the administration at Alturas Academy. As a school resource officer, Molly spends her days interacting with students and staff at both Alturas Preparatory Academy (grades 6-12) and Alturas International Academy (grades K-5). She also assists Officer Lyke in his duties.

School resource officers have unique roles within law enforcement agencies. In addition to investigating crimes and responding to safety concerns, they also work on building relationships between students and law enforcement. This often involves acting as mentors and role models for students. Through these positive relationships, SROs are able to learn about safety or criminal issues that may otherwise go unreported.

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Officer Lyke, who started his position at Alturas during the 2025-2026 school year, refers to Molly as a "cheat code" because she makes him more approachable and helps him connect with students who may be nervous around police officers.

According to Officer Lyke, it is common for students to stop by his office or in the halls just to pet and play with Molly. While these interactions are usually casual, there have been instances where students sought comfort from Molly while dealing with personal issues such as the loss of a family pet or stress from school, social, or home life.

Molly has become a beloved presence at Alturas, often being featured in art and photography projects and serving as an incentive for good behavior and test scores. She has also made appearances on the school's social media accounts. The Idaho Falls Police Department is grateful to the administration and staff at Alturas Academy for supporting Molly's placement with Officer Lyke and welcoming her into the schools.

In addition to her duties at the school, Molly has also been utilized on patrol with Officer Lyke. During a car accident, she was able to provide comfort to children involved in the crash. In another case, she helped distract a child during a child abuse investigation while other officers spoke with the parents.

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Molly is also part of the Idaho Falls Police TRUST team, which offers peer support to police officers and staff within the department. She is one of three dogs in the IFPD wellness dog program and is currently working towards completing her Advanced Canine Good Citizen and Urban Canine Good Citizen certifications with the help of Idaho Elite K-9. The Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation generously donated $3,000 for additional training for Molly and her handler. The department hopes to continue her training and certify her as a therapy animal in the future.

The addition of Molly to the Idaho Falls Police Department has already had a positive impact on both students and officers alike. Her presence has helped lower tensions during protests and provided comfort during difficult situations. The department looks forward to seeing how Molly will continue to serve their community in her role as a police therapy dog.

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