by Dylan Payne
The Paducah Sun
May 31, 2024
Used with permission.
When most people think about police officers and their animals, they think of a German Shepard or a blood hound, but for one Paducah police officer, the animal she brings with her to work is a bearded dragon named Rizzoli.
Gretchen Morgan is a Paducah Police Department school resource officer at Clark Elementary, and brings her reptile friend with her to school every day.
Rizzoli is 2 years old, and she came into Morgan’s life after needing to be rehomed. At first, Morgan was unsure about the prospect.
“She was kind of a rescue, needed to be rehomed,” Morgan said. “I wasn’t a reptile fan, and so the family reached out a couple of times… so finally I was like ‘OK, if you can’t find a home, she can come and just live in my office.’”
An animal lover, Morgan asked the principal if Rizzoli could come to school, and the result was Rizzoli finding her forever home.
The dragon had a different name when she was adopted, and Morgan called her family for help finding a “cop” name, considering they are partners.
When naming her, Morgan tossed around Doughnut and Badge, among others, when her brother recommended Rizzoli.
The name comes from a hit TV show “Rizzoli & Isles.” The show depicts two women in law enforcement, and the name was fitting.
“She has a personality,” Morgan said. “It’s given me the opportunity at school to kind of break that awkward bond.”
Sometimes the kids wonder why a police officer is at the school, or they have questions about what is on Morgan’s duty belt. She said Rizzoli helps make those conversations easier.
“It’s just breaking that barrier of communication so we can start talking about whatever,” Morgan said. “The dragon, what’s going on at home, why am I here, why do I carry all this stuff…and sometimes they’re nervous asking me questions, and Rizzoli helps break that barrier.”
Max James is a fourth grader at Clark Elementary School and goes to visit Rizzoli every day. He said his two favorite things about the dragon are playing with her and watching her eat bugs.
“She’s just very awesome, the lizard,” James said. “The first time I saw her she was very small, but now she’s very big. And it’s very good I can see a reptile at school.”
He thinks Rizzoli and Morgan make a good team, and he’s not alone.
Jaiden Davie is also a fourth grader and said the dragon has helped create a relationship between her and Morgan.
“I’ve got to talk to Miss Officer Morgan pretty much this year. I haven’t really saw her in the last couple of years,” Davie said. “One day Miss Officer Morgan brought us [Rizzoli’s] shed and stuff, and talked about it. It was really cool.”
Morgan and Rizzoli have been chosen for the Safety and Support Companion Award given by the National Association of School Resource Officers.