[bbfan1991]

Criminals planning on targeting the New Mexico town of Vaughn will be hoping that the bark of its police force is worse than its bite.



This is after a drug-sniffing dog named Nikka was left as the only certified member of the town's police force, following the resignation of its police chief, Ernest "Chris" Armijo.

Armijo is believed to have resigned after reports surfaced that he wasn't allowed to carry a gun because of his political background.

It means that Nikka is the only certified member of the force who is able to administer any form of woof justice.

The only other officer in the town pleaded guilty to charges of assault and battery last year, meaning that he can't make arrests or carry firearms.

Joyce Tabor, a resident of the town, said she wasn't concerned about the new brand of paw enforcement in the town.

'There's just a whole lot of nothing going on here,' she said.

'We have very little crime. It's quiet. So this really doesn't matter.'

It seems as though Nikka may have to wait a while until he receives his moment of fame with Armijo declining to grant access to the canine for photographs or video.

However, a dog's kennel was seen in Armijo's backyard as well as a police truck aptly marked K-9 parked in the driveway.