'Splash', a 2-year-old otter, joins Florida Police Department as cute colleague to aid in underwater search and rescue missions and look absolutely adorable while doing it: '[He's] an incredible asset'

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Nov 12, 2025 9:00 AM EST

It seems like everyone is adopting animals into police forces nowadays. We're not complaining, in fact, this is some welcome news amongst everything else that's happening in the world. Last week, we thought the Vermont Police Force broke the cuteness meter by adding a French bulldog to their pawlice force (he's responsible for assisting kids to school and making sure there are no leftover donuts going bad), but Florida always has to come through and one-up everyone else. This state added an otter, yes, a 2-year-old Asian otter named 'Splash', to their search and rescue team. Splash is the first otter ever search and rescue otter!

While reading about Splash, we learned that otters have an incredible sense of smell; they're even able to smell underwater by exhaling and breathing the same air again, sensing any changes in smell thanks to its contact with the water. But why does the police force need help smelling underwater?

Well, if you've ever been to Florida, you know that it's very… swampy. There are lots of areas with water, and police dogs can often lead teams to water, but can't go any further as they can't smell past it. Splash will assist in missing persons cases and will look absolutely adorable while doing it. Good luck, Splash!

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  • 01
    Brut. A Sheriff's Office has introduced Splash, a new search and rescue colleague, and he's an otter. → inty
    via brutamerica, Martin County Sheriff's Office via Facebook
  • 02
    brutamerica ⭑The Martin County Sheriff's Office has announced they will use the help of Splash, a 2-year-old Asian small-clawed otter, with their search and rescue team. Trained in scent detection, Splash will assist in locating individuals in bodies of water, working alongside Peace River K9 Search and Rescue. Otters' strong underwater sense of smell makes him a unique asset for rescue operations.
    via brutamerica
  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10573892096
    via wptv

  • Now, we're just looking for excuses for why our offices need an otter. We have nothing to do with missing persons, nor do we have any bodies of water next to us, but still, there must be some sort of excuse we can give to our boss to hire an otter. Maybe they can be our mascot? We'll take care of them every day, we promise!

  • 04
    Brut. On October 30, in Martin County, Florida, just north of Boca Raton, the Sheriff's Office announced the addition of an "incredible asset" to their search and rescue team: Splash, a 2-year-old Asian small-clawed otter.
    via brutamerica, Martin County Sheriff's Office via Facebook
  • 05
    otterbox Otters are incredible.
    via otterbox
  • 06
    prsark9
    via wptv
  • 07
    soymead I've met him!! Very sweet little guy and an amazing handler! Splash has already given many families the justice and closure they deserve! &
    via soymead
  • 08
    prsark9
    via wptv
  • 09
    harlando I LOVE HIM SO MUCH
    via harlando
  • 10
    Brut. Splash is trained in scent detection and recovery work. The Sheriff's Office reports that he will be a valuable asset in locating individuals in bodies of water.
    via brutamerica, Martin County Sheriff's Office via Facebook

  • We have never once considered moving to Florida before, but now, it's definitely on the table. We might even purposefully go missing so that Splash can find us. It sounds kind of nice to disconnect from everything, no phone, no people, just floating in some water for a few days until an otter comes and holds our hands. 

  • 11
    its_my_gram Too cute. I hope he has other otter friends tho.
    via its_my_gram
  • 12
    CRIFF'S MART YOU! MARTIN OFFICE COUNT SEARCH
    via wptv
  • 13
    Martin County SHERIFF'S OFFICE Sheriff John M. Budensiek Brut Otters are known for their remarkable sense of smell. A 2006 study suggests that this sense even works underwater, as otters exhale a bubble of air and then inhale it back to detect scents.
    via brutamerica, Martin County Sheriff's Office via Facebook
  • 14
    cool_ranch_photographic ACAB includes otter cops
    via cool_ranch_photographic
  • 15
    SEX Ma S Splash will work alongside the Martin County Sheriff's Office and Peace River K9 Search and Rescue, a Florida-based nonprofit that provides highly trained search and rescue teams for missing persons. Brut s M.
    via brutamerica, Martin County Sheriff's Office via Facebook
  • 16
    Cheezburger Image 10573892352
    via wptv
  • 17
    xxrebelrebelxx I too require an otter at work
    via xxrebelrebelxx
  • 18
    prsark9
    via wptv
  • 19
    prsark9
    via wptv
  • 20
    RCH AREECUE TIC SHERIFF'S OFFI eriff M nsie
    via wptv

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Tags

underwater adorable service animals splash cute animals cute otters animals police Search and Rescue rescue
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