MARYSVILLE – To the public, Marysville police K-9s Copper and Steele are celebrities. But to criminals, well, they are just dog tired of both of them.

Copper and Steele had a very busy October. While normally it’s the dog days of summer, K9 officer Derek Oakes said summer was quiet when it was so hot, but now the “fair weather criminals” are getting active.

According to their own website, which the public seems to love, the dogs were involved in the following cases:

•After a residential burglary in Mount Vernon this week, Copper tracked down the suspect who had climbed a tree.

•Steele helped the Drug Enforcement Agency track down a felon in Marysville last week. Inside a storage unit was heroin, $30,000 and four guns.

•Skagit County tracked down one of its Most Wanted with the help of Copper, four other K9 dogs, a helicopter, a boat and a SWAT team.

•Owners watched a burglary on a surveillance camera at Mary’s Grocery and Deli. Copper helped track down stolen items and also the suspect, who was hiding in a dumpster.

•A suspect hiding in a barn after a hit and run gave up when police confronted him with Steele.

•A prolific shoplifter was caught leaving Kohl’s department store when Copper was waiting at the door.

•After a vehicle pursuit on a felony warrant, Steele helped capture the suspect, who was hiding in an apartment attic.

•A violent offender suspect at Tulalip Casino gave up after a short chase when police threatened to release Steele. Oakes said Skagit County is missing one of its dog, so they are busy helping up there. That’s also where Oakes lives.

“The one yesterday, they needed a dog, and I was on my way to work,” he said Tuesday. “To avoid the dog, the guy climbed the tree. He’s not going anywhere. Then it was a waiting game.”

Oakes said most of the time officers don’t have to even release the dogs. “That’s always the hope and goal – a peaceful resolution.”

He said he just came upon the big manhunt last week. On the way to work again, some college kids asked him when the lockdown would be lifted. He checked it out. Oakes said the suspect was “relentless. He never stops. He’s not afraid to do anything to get away.”

The suspect, who was wanted for multiple felonies, was on foot the entire time, going through thick woods. “We used so many dogs. They’d get tired, and we’d cycle them out where the last good scent was,” Oakes said.

The suspect was captured after Homeland Security spotted him from a helicopter. As for being celebrities, Oakes said lots of people follow Copper and Steele on Facebook. When they are out in the community, people often come up and want to have their pictures taken with them.

They even make public appearances. Last month they were part of the Tip A Cop fund-raiser at Red Robin for Special Olympics. This month they will be part of the Police Officers Association Coats, Hats and Gloves Drive Nov. 24-26.

Part of their celebrity status has to do with how happy the dogs are. Oakes said that’s because of their positive reinforcement training.

“It’s just a game to them,” Oakes said. “Copper was barking and barking at this guy and acting all mean and tough” (during one recent arrest). But when it was over, it was like “whatever – he didn’t care anymore. Patrol guys were patting him on the head. And he’s like, ‘Cool. This is fun. Let’s do it again.’”