After a successful first month on the job as Tiverton’s first comfort-therapy dog, three-month-old Blue, an English Labrador retriever, reached an important career milestone last week when he was sworn in as the newest member of the Tiverton Police Department.

As town council president Denise deMedeiros administered the oath and his handler, Officer Shaun Wilson, proudly looked on, the young recruit was on his best behavior, agreeing, with a raised paw, that he would faithfully discharge the duties of his position for the Town of Tiverton. Other comfort dogs and their handlers from police departments in Bristol, Somerset, and Cranston were on hand to witness the ceremony and wish Blue well.

Since joining the police department early last month, Blue’s workaday life has been a whirlwind, with visits to each town department, local schools, and area businesses. He has adapted well to his new role, said Wilson, and in encounters with students and community members has already shown he has the character traits to do the job well.

Blue has a hugely popular Facebook page and has gotten national press coverage in his few short weeks on the job. Acknowledging the pup’s celebrity status, Police Chief Patrick Jones said, “He’s a Tiverton version of Taylor Swift right about now.”

“He’s extraordinarily popular and we couldn’t ask for a better partner in Officer Wilson,” Jones added. “The impact they have made on the community has been overwhelming, and we are just getting started.”