On Sunday afternoon, Barkley Haisten accepted the oath of office from Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport and will serve the town of Brundidge as its unofficial and honorary assistant chief of police on Peanut Butter Festival Day, Oct. 27.

Davenport administered the oath of office at the close of the Joe the Dog Contest held on the grounds of the Bass House in downtown Brundidge.

Barkley Haisten was selected from a strong field of candidates based on his commitment to community service.

“Barkley best exemplifies the spirit of Joe Leverette, the pistol-packing, pipe-puffing pooch that served Brundidge as its assistant police chief from 1932-43 and during the heydays of the peanut butter mills in Brundidge,” said Randy Ross, master of ceremonies for the contest. “Joe served under his master Chief Howell Leverette and was the first dog to take a bite out of crime. He was a crime-stopper and also served on the town’s fire department, attended FBI school, was featured in advertisements for a national dog biscuit company and campaigned for political candidates who vowed to uphold the law throughout the county.”

The finalists in the Joe the Dog Contest will be “deputy dogs” at the Peanut Butter Festival and will ride with the honorary Brundidge assistant chief of police in the Nutter Butter Parade on Festival Day.

Other winners in the Joe the Dog Contest were Cricket Anderson, best hair style; Theodore Bear Haisten, best impersonator; Evie Ross, une jolie belle; Bella Blue of Haisten, most petite; Joy Price, best foreign representative; and Pebbles Price, sexiest.

Theodore Bear was determined the most talented. Theodore, an Elvis impersonator, had a whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on.

“The Joe the Dog Contest dates back to the beginning of the Peanut Butter Festival, some 21years ago,” Ross said. “But we let it drop for a few years and were anxious to bring the dogs back. Joe Leverette is part of the folk history of our community and adds a lot of flavor to Peanut Butter Festival week. We look forward to Joe the Dog being part of our harvest and heritage celebration for years to come.”