Elko, the slain dog, was a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois that was certified by the International Police Working Dog Association, according to Knoxville Police Department spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

Imported from France, the Belgian Malinois obeys commands in what Harris called slang French. All 10 or so commands are kept a secret, Harris said, so targets of the dog's eye don't know what's coming.