Canine

Courier
the united states police
canine association, inc.

JUNE • JULY • AUGUST

vol. 30, no.2

National Detector Dog Trials & Certification 2017

 xt :
Ne top
S San Francisco August 27-30, 2017

More Insturctors & Classes Than

Any Other Police K-9 Seminar

www.HITSK9.net
CONTENTS
IBE
SUBSCR !
TODAY
Editor
Canine
Courier
Robert (Doc) Dougherty, Flourtown, PA
2017-2018 National Officers
President: Jason Brodt, St. Paul, MN
Secretary: Melinda Ruopp, Marshaltown, IA
Treasurer: James Matarese, Falmouth, VA Columns
Trustees 5 Letters to the Editor
Brady Harrison, Woodbury, MN
5 Director’s Report
John Freeman, Bryans Road, MD
6 President’s Message
Harry Barraclough, Cantonment, FL
Alternate - Ron Bowling, Lakeland, FL 7 National Secretary’s Report
Vice Presidents 9 Region Reports
Northeast – Carlos Rolon, Alexandria, VA
Southeast – Brandon Gilmore, Waynesville, NC
63 Calendar of Events
Southwest – Noel Salamoni, Greenwell 64 End of Watch
Springs, LA
Central – Ryan Machin, Springfiled, IL
West – Tom Healy, Colorado Springs, CO
Features
Northwest – Joshua Stenseth, Star Prairie, WI 26 Combating The Effects of K-9 Stress
USPCA Executive Director 46 Immunotherapy Update
Dr. David “Lou” Ferland
Assistant Professor Mount 47 Officer Safety Corner
Washington College
3 Sundial Avenue Trainer’s Corner
Manchester, NH 03103 49 Leadership, Obedience, and Working Dog Teams
Published Quarterly Deborah Palman
by the U.S.P.C.A., Inc.
Business & Editorial Offices
Robert Dougherty Jr. On the cover:
410 Norfolk Rd. Monza Award Recipient Officer
Flourtown, PA 19031 Nick Kent and K9 Ranger
Forest Lake Police Department K9
Phone: 610.316.3942 Ranger died in the line of duty from
Fax: 215.948.3594 cardiac arrest after fighting with a
felony suspect inside a vehicle.
Email: uspcacourier@gmail.com
This publication assumes no tresponsibility for Do you have a cover photo??
statements made by contributors. Please submit high resolution (300 dpi)
photos for cover consideration to
Website: www.uspcak9.com Canine Courier: uspcacourier@gmail.com

THE UNITED STATES POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

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2 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

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June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 3

49
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To The Membership:
I hope everyone has a fantastic summer. Over
the past few months we have picked up addi-
tional advertisers, increased the color pages
available to the publication and have main-
tained the Courier financially stable on its own. Region ___ – detecor or patrol
I am still receiving incomplete submissions for Officers & k9 name
jobs K9 teams or their supervisors are submit- Agency and state
ting for recognition. When this happens I can Content describing deployment
spend extra time waiting for the corrected or Include any high resolution jpg or pdf images to go
additional information needed. The information along with content.
needed is as follows: Bob Dougherty - Editor

Director’s Report
Executive Director Dr. David “Lou” Ferland

As Summer is upon us, it is time Checking the temperature

to make sure that Spring did not
get away from us too soon and
that all the slag associated with
Winter has been brushed away for
good. While in the home it might
be fixing gardens, cleaning the car,
or repairing a hole in the deck, the
start of Summer for a K-9 Unit can
serve as a much-needed review and
inspection of equipment, operating
systems and emergency first aid.
The K-9 Unit can develop a checklist
type inspection to help insure they
are ready and up to date. Some of
things particular to a K-9 Unit might
include:
monitoring system and door
release of the cruiser. Change out
any batteries-fully test the unit for
complete operability-research with
the manufacturer to see if there are
any updates/recalls that should be
addressed.
A full review (with department Vet-
erinarian) of the K-9 First Aid Kit.
Make sure all emergency drugs are
up to date, are pre-dosed for your
dog, and the inclusion of a 24/7
emergency veterinarian phone
number written on the cover of
your kit for easy retrieval. Make sure
YOU KNOW HOW to provide
emergency services in the field
and that you have the right medical
supplies for a street emergency.
This is also a great time to check
with local Ambulance services to
see if they can and will transport
your K-9 in an emergency.
A well-documented and thorough
inventory of any and all drug,
explosive, cadaver, and so on
training aids. Once inventoried,
check to see how old the aids
are and if they have suffered from
cross-contamination. Chances are
that the aids have suffered from both
Director’s Report Continued…

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 5

Director’s Report Continued…
loss and contamination. All training
aids should be replaced according
to department policy or if they are
too old or have suffered contamina-
tion issues. Check to make sure the
aids have a scientific paper trail
showing they are truly made up of the
chemical compositions/odors you are
training the dog to detect.
Inspect the interior kennel unit from
the perspective of the K-9. Get inside
to see if there are any sharp pieces
that have surfaced or hazards that
may injure the dog during transpor-
tation. Provide a complete cleaning
of the kennel and interior of the
cruiser. Check to make sure that all
warning decals on the cruiser are in
proper and professional condition.
Clean and organize the trunk or
equipment locker area. Are leashes,
leads, collars and other leather type
equipment in terrific condition and
ready for another year of use? Check
to make sure you have overhead
images of your jurisdiction in case
Google Maps or other types of
imagery is not available where the
search will be conducted. Clean any
water storage containers. Check
for bug repellant and sunscreen.
Are protective sleeves, suits and
other training equipment in great
shape? Is the bulletproof vest for
the K-9 properly fitted for the dog
and in proper protective condition for
another year of use?
Review of the previous year’s training
logs and certifications. If not up to
date, get there, and if not signed off
and locked down by a supervisor,
have that done. It is important to
the integrity of the Unit that it be
managed well and record keeping is
a critical component in showcasing
the capabilities and professionalism
of the Unit. If you are using a com-
puterized Records Management
System (RMS), check to see if there
are updates needed.
List out 5 advancements you would
like to see YOU accomplish in the
next year. It may be attending more
certification trials, maybe attend a
training seminar in another region,
perhaps to increase public relations
demonstrations, but list five (5) and
place on the inside of your truck. This
will serve as a reminder to you with
how you see moving your K-9 Unit
forward.
Lastly, create a checklist that you
can add to over time as you think of
new things to add to your annual or
bi-annual inspection. It will help you
stay organized and help with future
department budgeting in knowing
what equipment might need to be
replaced or updated in the next few
years.
These are just a few ideas to get
things started.
Keep Training and Stay Safe,
LOU

President Jason Brodt
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I would to extend a heartfelt thank
you to Ken Mathias, The North
Carolina Sate Bureau of Investi-
gation and Members of Region
2 for putting a very nice showing
at the National Detector Trials in
early April. Job well done.
The Trial next year will be hosted
by Tracy Stuart (Stockton College
PD, NJ), and Region 15. I am
sure they will do a fabulous job as
usual. Hope to see you all there.
As we start to move to warmer
weather please be very cautious
with your K9 partners in your
vehicles. Every year we have
too many accidents and dogs
die. This must come to an end.
Come up with a routine, so that
the dog never gets left in the car
after a shift. If you do not have
hot sensing equipment, there are
grants out there to help agencies
in purchasing them. Again, this is
a very serious issue and needs to
stop immediately.
Cities and Counties have
started to charge handlers with
negligence in this regard, and in
my opinion is very hard to argue
against that. Many agencies
have gone to a policy stating that
when the dog is in the car, the
heat sensor is on. That is a best
practice in my opinion.
If there is anything that the
USPCA can do for you, please let
us know.
Stay Safe,
Jason Brodt
National President
United State Police
Canine Association

6 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

SECRETARY’S REPORT
Hello to all!
Summer is finally here! Don’t forget to
check your heat alarm EVERY DAY
when you are working in this heat.
There were a number of dogs that
perished last year because of the
failure of a system or handler error.
Let’s see that number go to zero!
We have had 58 USPCA trials
between January and June 1st.
Looks like this will be a great year
for membership and trials! To give
you an idea of what we have ac-
complished this year, (with all but
7 of those trials added in) we are
sitting at a total of 1049 dogs who
have participated in a USPCA trial. and more training opportunities.
*141 dogs have passed a PDI test:
12 have failed. 8 failed in the appre-
hension phase and 4 failed in the
ob phase. We had only 125 of the
141 dogs that were successful with
their false starts, and only 103 dogs
that were successful with their recall
(standing or running) .
TREASURER’S MESSAGE
I hope all of you have a safe summer
at work and at home. Please
remember your canine partner
during the hot weather.
Getting older, I get to reminisce for
a few minutes. In 1986, I started in
my Department’s K9 Unit. We drove
back and forth to work with our
partners in our personally owned
vehicles (POV). Most of us did not
have air conditioning. You either had
a beat-up car or if you were lucky
– a pickup truck. My Department
was good enough to let most of the
K9 units work nights in the summer.
The explosive detector teams were
not granted this luxury. While at
work, we were very vigilant while
our dogs were in our police cruisers.
(K9 was never assigned a new car).
There were always times when our
air conditioning failed.
In the early 90s, my Department
finally assigned new cars to the unit.
It took about five more years to get
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 7
• 571 dogs have passed a narc test:
39 have failed. Of those 571 dogs,
there were 160 hides missed in
the room phase, and 75 hides
missed in the vehicle phase.
• 133 dogs have passed an explosive
test: 27 have failed. Only 8 failed the
ORT phase. 26 hides were missed
in the rooms, 24 in the vehicles and
21 in the package phases.
This sort of gives you an idea where
we need to work. Certifications are
only a start to what we do. Training is
really the key. President Brodt recog-
nizes this and is trying to push this As-
sociation to start trying to offer more
Secretary Melinda Ruopp
We sit at 2244 members as I write
this. There are probably 20 more appreciate all that you do for this
that I need to collect who have par- Association… whether it’s just being
ticipated in trials. This puts us ahead a member, or being a judge, region
of where we were last year. Keep up officer, etc.
the good work Regions!
Take great care and stay safe!
As always, if you need anything, do Melinda Ruopp
not hesitate to let me know. I greatly National Secretary
permission to drive them to and from
work. We also convinced the admin-
istration to install temperature mon-
itoring systems in our K9 cruisers.
Of course, they were first installed
by our maintenance department. It
was a few years before they realized
that someone who understood the
system should install it. The other
problem was that many of my fellow
K9 officers never tested the system
according to the guidelines given Treasurer, Jim Matarese
by the manufacturer. If they found a
problem, many of them would just test according to the manufacturer’s
shut off the system. guidelines.
We have been fortunate with all I want to thank our National Secretary
of the improvements of monitor- Melinda Ruopp. She has stream-
ing systems that protect our dogs. lined the membership process with
Now, most (unfortunately not ALL) PayPal.
K9 units have some type of moni- I hope to see many of you in Foley,
toring system. Still, we hear stories
AL at the National Patrol Dog Trials.
every summer about dogs that
The host Carlos Lizarraga has been
die of heat injuries. Please if you
do have a system, make sure it is preparing for the event for over a year.
working properly. Make sure you Keep Safe, Jim Matarese
8 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
Region 1
Welcome back to the USPCA
City of Miami Police K9 Unit
From left to right: Officer Adnnan Anjum & K-9 Zeus; Officer Stephanie Gray-Collazo & K-9 Nas;
Sgt. Marc Redondo & K-9 Legion; Officer Manny Bello & K-9 Pluto (Head trainer); Sgt. Albert Perez & K-9 Boss;
Officer John Marin & K-9 Rex.
Region 1 Patrol
Deputy Claudio Dimundo & K9 Odin
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
On 03/05/17, Deputy Dimundo and K9 Odin
of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office respond-
ed to an establishment at 16361 US 19 North.
in reference to a strong arm robbery that had
just occurred where the suspect fled on foot.
The victim was beaten severely in the parking
lot and sustained a broken jaw. Witnesses saw
the suspect take what was later determined to
be $500 cash from the victim’s pocket as he
lay on the ground. The suspect then fled across
US 19.
Patrol deputies established a perimeter while
Deputy Dimundo deployed K9 Odin to track the
suspect. A track was developed at 17111 US
19 N. that led east through multiple industrial
properties. During this portion of the track Dep-
uty Dimundo and K9 Odin negotiated multiple
fences and through a small wooded area be-
fore locating a northbound turn. Here K9 Odin
indicated the track led over a barbwire fence.
The track then continued through a dried pond
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 9
bed, under another chain link fence, then over
a six foot vinyl fence eventually coming out
to Cove Cay Golf Course. From here K9 Odin
maintained the track eventually coming to a
wooded area bordering the golf course.
The suspect attempted to conceal himself
in the wood line as Deputy Dimundo and K9
Odin approached and made no attempt to sur-
render. Based on the severity of the crime and
the suspect’s active attempt to flee and evade
arrest K9 Odin was deployed to apprehend the
suspect and did so with a bite to the left leg.
K9 Odin then extracted the suspect from his
concealed location, pulling him out into the
open. The suspect did not comply with initial
commands and attempted to pull away from
K9 Odin. A backup deputy arrived at their lo-
cation while the suspect continued to disobey
commands, refusing to show his hands and
still attempting to pull his leg away. The backup
deputy delivered strikes to the suspect to gain
compliance while K9 Odin maintained a firm
grip of the left leg. The suspect was able to be
forcibly secured in handcuffs at which time K9
Odin released the bite.
As a result of this incident the suspect was
FLORIDA
charged with Robbery (Strong Arm) and Aggra-
vated Battery. Once identified the suspect was
also found to be on felony probation for Battery
and charged with Felony Violation of Probation.
During this incident K9 Odin tracked through
multiple surface changes and over obstacles
for a distance of approximately ½ mile never
wavering. Also, K9 Odin remained committed
to the apprehension of this suspect during a
violent struggle in the attempt to take the sus-
pect in custody. Without the efforts and abilities
of K9 Odin and Deputy Dimundo this violent
suspect may have never been located or iden-
tified.
Region 1 Detector
Deputy Sheriff C. Tomblin
& K9 Remco
Highlands County Sheriff’s Office
On Tuesday, March 21, 2017 a traffic stop
was conducted by a member of road patrol
of the Highlands County Sheriff’s office in on
Baxter Avenue in Sebring, Florida. During the
course of the traffic stop, K-9 Deputy Sheriff C.
Tomblin and his canine partner, Remco arrived
Region 1 FLORIDA

on scene and offered their canine assistance.
K-9 Deputy Tomblin deployed his certified drug
detection canine partner, Remco and conduct-
ed a free air sniff of the public air space sur-
rounding the exterior of the vehicle. During the
sniff, Remco entered the vehicle through the
driver’s door of the vehicle and alerted to the
center console of the vehicle. A probable cause
search of the vehicle yielded a cannabis cigar
and fully loaded illegally concealed .38 caliber
handgun between the driver’s seat and center
console. The driver, Louis Huff was arrested for
possession of cannabis under twenty grams,
drug paraphernalia, and possession of a fire-
arm by a convicted felon.
During the course of the traffic stop, infor-
mation was obtained by the passenger that
Huff had in his possession a large quantity of
methamphetamine and several illegal firearms
(some of which were possibly fully automatic)
in his possession, in a shed at his mother’s
house. K-9 Deputy Tomblin and other units
went to his residence, located on Seventh
Street in Sebring where written consent was
obtained by his mother to search the shed. K-9
Deputy Tomblin deployed canine Remco and
conducted an interior sniff of the shed. Rem-
co alerted to an end table in the center of the
shed. On top of the end table were loose piec-
es of cannabis, scales, and baggies for drug
sales. Deputy Tomblin opened the drawer of the
end table and located one bag containing 8.8
grams of methamphetamine and a gallon sized
zip-lock bag with methamphetamine filling up
one quarter of the bag.
A lawful search warrant was drafted by road
patrol person and then executed, by K-9 Dep-
uty Tomblin and other road patrol units. The
search yielded a total of 271.2 grams of meth-
amphetamine, less than a gram of cannabis,
three illegal firearms, numerous rounds of am-
munition for varies calibers of weapons. One
of the firearms was a sawed-off style shotgun,
which was stolen in burglary in February of
2016. The other the firearms are presumed to
be stolen as well.
K-9 Deputy Tomblin and another Deputy then
made contact with Huff at the Highland County
Jail and obtained a full post Miranda confes-
sion from Huff. Huff was charged with armed
trafficking of methamphetamine, possession of
a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of
ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of
less than twenty grams of cannabis, and pos-
session of drug paraphernalia.
The case was then adopted by the DEA and
transferred to the Federal Level. A large amount
of drugs and several illegal firearms were taken
off the streets of Highlands County. This was a
team effort, but all made possible by K-9 Dep-
uty Tomblin proactively offering his assistance,
canine Remco’s original alert to the vehicle on
the original traffic stop, and canine Remco lo-
cating the hidden drugs in the shed. For their
actions I respectfully submit the canine team of
K-9 Deputy Tomblin and canine Remco for the
narcotics case of the quarter.

Region 2 NORTH CAROLINA/SOUTH CAROLINA

Region 2
Class Graduation: March 22, 2017

From Left to Right: Tim Braddy, Instructor, K9 Radec, Rocky Mount Police Department; Joseph Rein, K9 Lola, Currituck County Sheriff’s Office;
Joseph Snider, K9 Kris, Martin County Sheriff’s Office; Wendy Mayer, K9 Karma, Elizabeth City Police Department, Wesley Alcock, K9 Hunter, Cur-
rituck County Sheriff’s Office; Mark Chappell, Student Instructor, Currituck County Sheriff’s Office; Jacob Villalobos, K9 Cato, Rocky Mount Police
Department; Benjamin Martin, K9 Colt, Elizabeth City Police Department; Brandon Mobley, K9 Elias, Martin County Sheriff’s Office; Henry Smith, K9
Korado, Currituck County Sheriff’s Office; Brandon Thomas, K9 Soco, Rocky Mount Police Department.

10 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

Region 2 NORTH CAROLINA/SOUTH CAROLINA

officer had to jump out of the way to avoid be-

Region 2 Detector
Officer Ryan Sparling & K9 Echo
Aiken Public Safety Department, SC.
On February 18, 2017 was called to McCor-
mick St at Abbeville Ave in Aiken, South Carolina.
Officer Posey had attempted to stop and talk to
two people, one being an associate of a want-
ed person. The one that was the associate of
the wanted person kept walking. When Officer
Posey asked him to stop again, the male took
off running, and the officer gave chase on foot.
During the foot pursuit the suspect was running
with his right hand in his right coat pocket. Offi-
cer Posey lost sight of him, and another officer
cut him off and he was arrested shortly thereaf-
ter. When the suspect was arrested, there was
nothing in his right coat pocket.
Officer Sparling was called to the scene to
conduct a K9 sniff of the area with K9 Echo.
Officer Sparling cast K9 Echo in the area where
Officer Posey had lost sight of the suspect.
This area had a lot of underbrush and was very
over grown. This left a lot of areas to conceal
what he had in his coat pocket. K9 Echo began
her search. After about 5 minutes she had a
change of behavior on some heavy brush. K9
Echo had located a Sig Sauer P938 9mm. The
pistol was confirmed to be stolen out the local
Sheriff’s office. The pistol was loaded, with a
round in the chamber.
Region 2 Patrol
Officer Dave Green and K9 Lucci
Raleigh Police Department, NC
On March 19, 2017, I was on duty and driv-
ing my assigned RPD patrol vehicle, assigned
to K-9 patrol for the city this evening. Over the
radio, I heard an officer locate and attempt to
stop a stolen motor vehicle. The stolen vehicle
failed to yield and the officer disengaged. A few
minutes later, other officers in the area located
the vehicle pulling into a parking lot at 410 S.
Fisher St. The suspect vehicle became blocked
in by an unaware citizen in their vehicle. While
he was blocked in, officers exited their vehi-
cles and attempted to arrest the suspect. The
suspect intentionally rammed the citizen’s ve-
hicle, causing injury to the innocent citizens.
The suspect then put the vehicle into reverse,
intentionally ramming an RPD patrol vehicle. An
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 11
ing struck by the assaultive suspect.
I was on Milburnie Rd at the intersection of
Booker St when the above interactions were
taking place. I observed the suspect’s vehicle
turn onto Booker St. and travel toward me. The
suspect was in my lane of travel. I stopped my
vehicle, put it in park, tightened my seatbelt
tighter and pulled my hands and feet away
from the steering wheel and pedals. I was brac-
ing for what I thought was going to be a head
on collision. At the last second, the suspect
swerved and drove past me. I turned around
and radioed in my location and that I was be-
hind the suspect’s vehicle.
The vehicle continued east on Milburnie Rd.
We crossed Raleigh Blvd. The traffic light was
green in our direction of travel. We continued
east until the suspect turned north on Culpep-
per Rd. After failing to stop at the stop sign, the
suspect turned west onto Crabtree Blvd. This is
a dead end road. As the suspect rounded the
curve, nearly at the dead end, he turned his
vehicle lights off. The suspect failed to reduce
speed and crashed into the guard rail at the
dead end of Crabtree Blvd.
The suspect jumped and ran from the stolen
motor vehicle. I dismounted from my patrol
vehicle and activated the pop door, remotely
deploying my trained, certified patrol canine,
Lucci. The suspect ran straight past the front of
the stolen vehicle and into the woods. I called
Lucci to me and directed her towards the loca-
tion I last saw the driver of the suspect vehicle
run. Lucci pursued the suspect into the woods. I
approached the suspect’s vehicle, clearing it for
additional occupants as I passed it. I ran towards
the woods where the suspect and Lucci entered.
The sirens from our police vehicles were still
extremely loud and I could not hear any re-
sponse from a suspect apprehension by Lucci.
I could not see into the thick woods. After ap-
proximately 15 seconds, I called Lucci to return
to me. Lucci returned and we ran back to my
patrol vehicle to retrieve equipment needed to
start a track in an attempt to locate the suspect.
It was unknown at the time, but was revealed
during the post apprehension interview with
the suspect, Lucci had located and apprehend-
ed the suspect by biting his lower right leg and
knocking him to the ground during the initial
jump and run and pop door canine deployment.
I deployed Lucci on a 15 foot tracking lead in
an effort to locate the suspect. I gave Lucci her
track command. I had two district officers as my
cover officers. Lucci picked up an active track and
led us north into the woods. The track continued
north and west through the woods, along the
Crabtree Greenway, down into Crabtree Creek,
back onto the greenway and onto a sewer ease-
ment that leads to the roadway near 2000 North
Raleigh Blvd. Lucci’s pace and intensity began to
pick up. We were tracking down the north side
of the easement when Lucci indicated to me the
track ended. This was the first time I could see the
blue lights from my perimeter units. The perime-
ter was approximately 200 yards away. I began
working the track as if the suspect back tracked,
changing directions after seeing the perimeter.
We began circling back towards our turn from the
greenway onto the easement. We were now al-
most a mile into this difficult track. I downed Lucci
and told her to take a break. Lucci laid down for a
few seconds and the breeze changed directions.
Lucci got up, showed a change in behavior and
started working odor towards the south side of
the easement, into the breeze.
Lucci entered the woods and from behind a
large downed tree approximately 10 feet into
thick bushes, the suspect began yelling, alert-
ing us to his presence. We quickly and safely
closed the distance and illuminated the sus-
pect. Lucci located and apprehended the sus-
pect on the forearm. The suspect was then tak-
en into custody. The suspect was treated and
released and was subsequently processed into
the Wake County Jail.
The suspect was charged with various offens-
es ranging from Robbery (Carjacking) to multi-
ple counts of Aggravated Assault, Hit and Run,
Multiple Traffic Charges, Possession of Stolen
Property, and Burglary.
Region 3
Region 5
Region 5 Patrol
Officer Devin Maloney
& K-9 Jax
Kettering Police Dep.
On 19 March, 2017, Kettering
PD K9 Team, Ptl. Maloney and
K9 Jax, were dispatched to as-
sist Moraine PD on mutual aide to
perform a track on suspects who
bailed after a lengthy vehicle pur-
suit that ended in a crash.
Ptl. Maloney arrived on scene
more than 20 minutes after the
crash and bail out had ensued.
The vehicle was occupied by a
12 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
driver and 2 additional occupants.
All 3 subjects bailed after the
crash and were at large upon ar-
rival. Ptl. Maloney deployed K9 Jax
to search for a track on the driv-
er based on the Officers witness
statement of last known location.
K9 Jax immediately assumed a
tracking posture and pulled into
a nearby thick wooded area, then
uphill through the woods. As they
reached the top of the hill, they
came to a large pile of logs, at
which point K9 Jax’s breathing
changed and his posture was
that of air scenting. A quick scan
of the logs resulted in the driver
being located under logs that he
MARYLAND • DELAWARE • VIRGINIA
OHIO • KENTUCKY • INDIANA
was hiding in and was taken into
custody without incident.
Ptl. Maloney and K9 Jax then re-
turned back to the original location
of the crash. After a brief break,
Ptl. Maloney again deployed K9
Jax on a track, this time starting
in the area where the passengers
where last known to be. K9 Jax
quickly indicated on a track, trav-
eling west along Guthrie Road and
then north on McArthur Ave. Short-
ly after turning onto McArthur, K9
Jax turned left into the woods.
The track continued through the
woods, around the perimeter
of the Dayton Police Academy
grounds and then headed north
to a large open field. They tracked
across this field, coming to Ketura
Drive. K9 Jax then tracked through
backyards, eventually arriving at
1900 Neosha Avenue. The home-
owner answered the door and
claimed a male had knocked on
the door indicating he had been in
an accident, but was refused help
and last seen walking away from
the residence. However, it was
later learned that 1900 Neosha
Avenue was actually an address
of a relative of the driver that was
apprehended in the log pile. As a
result, further investigation would
identify the other 2 passengers
of the vehicle. This second track
Region 5
was more than ½ mile in length, with multiple
surfaces to include along roadways for a sig-
nificant distance. None of the occupants would
have been found, nor charges levied, without
the finds by Ptl. Maloney and K9 Jax on this
morning. Charges included Operating a Vehicle
Under the Influence, Failure to Comply and Ob-
structing Official Business.
Region 5 Detector
Gerald Bemis & K-9 Jax
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
On Wednesday, 1/18/2017, at about 1200
hrs, I was doing a business check at 6270
W. Third St, Marathon Gas Station. As I pulled
into the parking lot, I noticed a white Kia Rio,
Michigan registration DAB1344 sitting at the
gas pumps, on the east side. I noticed the ve-
hicle had a bar code in the front windshield,
a possible rental vehicle. The vehicle also had
dark, illegal window tint on the windows. The
front driver side window tint had been peeled
off in sections. Hertz Rental does not place win-
dow tint on their vehicles. Whoever placed the
window tint on the vehicle possibly did so with
the purpose of hiding or concealing the driver’s
and passenger’s identity. Based on my years
of Criminal Interdiction training and experience,
this is an indicator of criminal activity.
I went inside Marathon and asked several
people if they were driving the white Kia Rio
in the parking lot. No one claimed driving the
vehicle. I went to the Kia and looked inside the
vehicle. I could see a picture sitting on the dash
of one of the subjects inside Marathon that dis-
claimed any knowledge of the Kia.
As I went back inside Marathon of the east
side door, I could see two subjects walking out
the west side door. I could see that both sub-
jects were nervous and separated themselves
from each other. One black male, 5’07”/150,
wearing a light brown jacket, red shirt, and blue
jeans began walking fast towards the Olive Hill
Apartment walk through. The second subject
began walking towards the Kia when I began to
approach him. I called the suspicious circum-
stance into dispatch and called for the second
subject to stop walking. I asked for identifi-
cation and he turned, looked at me, threw
his food to the ground, and then began run-
ning eastbound into the Family Dollar parking
lot. Once in the parking lot, the subject threw
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 13
OHIO • KENTUCKY • INDIANA
a glass bottle in my direction almost striking conducted on the Kia. Once inside the vehicle,
me. The bottle struck the ground, shattered I could smell a strong odor of burnt marijuana.
and shards of glass struck my duty boots and I searched under the driver’s seat and locat-
pant legs. The subject, later identified as De- ed a Glock handgun with a magazine seated
juan Ramell Brookshire, B/M/20, 5/10/1996, in the gun. The gun was lying under the seat
continued to run, as he pulled up his sagging with the handle facing the front of the vehicle
red pants towards the side of Fam- as if the driver or someone in the
ily Dollar. I yelled several times for
Brookshire to “STOP!” He failed
I yelled several front had placed the weapon there.
I opened the glovebox and located
to comply with my order and ran times for several boxes of Goody baggies,
back east in the yard between a Brookshire to similar to those used to package
fence and the Olive Hill Apartment
complex building. Brookshire ran
“STOP!” He failed illegal drugs for sale. There were
also several bags of hypodermic
around the building from south to to comply with needles and a plate inside a clear
east and I could see him open the my order and ran plastic baggie. Inside the boxes of
door and run into 209 Pawtucket
St. As I approached the apartment,
back east in the Goody baggies was a large baggie
of cocaine, a smaller baggie con-
I could hear a male and female yard between taining heroin, and a small baggie
yelling, “Get out, get out, we don’t a fence… of marijuana.
know you!” I ran into the apartment Evidence was requested to collect
and I could see Brookshire running photographs and evidence. Deputy M. Poulton
towards the rear door. Brookshire opened the arrived on scene and collected evidence. Dep-
rear door and stepped outside. Once outside, uty Poulton also took DNA from Brookshire.
Brookshire fell to the ground, due to his pants Deputy Teague ran Brookshire through Justice
falling down. I approached Brookshire and Web and it showed a prior felony conviction for
placed handcuffs on his wrists. I patted him Illegal Conveyance into a Detention Facility. De-
down for weapons and could see that he had tective S. Morgan was on scene and approved
defecated in his underwear. When Deputy A. Brookshire to be charged with N/C Burglary,
Teague arrived on scene, he took custody of N/C C.C.W, and N/C Weapons Under Disability.
Brookshire. After the necessary paperwork was completed,
In fear the second subject would return to Brookshire was transported to the Montgom-
the Marathon Station and take the Kia, I ran ery County Jail. Several assisting officers were
through the Olive Hill Apartment complex walk unable to locate the first subject that fled on
through and returned to the Marathon Station foot. He was last seen in the area behind the
where the Kia was still parked. Cassano’s running westbound. The vehicle was
I deployed K9 Jax, certified State of Ohio Spe- towed to Sandy’s Towing with no hold.
cial Purpose Canine and took him to the front
driver side bumper of the vehicle. I gave Jax
the command to sniff the air emitting from the
vehicle. Jax sniffed down the driver side and
stopped at the front door seam. Jax passively
alerted to an odor of an illegal drug by sitting
and staring at the door seam. The vehicle was
locked. I attempted for several minutes to open
the vehicle with a “Slim Jim” but was unable to
gain entry into the vehicle. A citizen, Earl McLe-
arran, W/M, 6/26/1969 walked up and handed
Deputy Teague a Kia remote key fob. He ad-
vised that he located the key fob in the parking
lot of the Family Dollar store. The same area I
chased Brookshire on foot.
I hit the unlock button on the key fob and it
unlocked the Kia. A probable cause search was
Region 6
Region 6 PD1 Trials & Evidence Detector Dog Certification
Date: September 8-9-10, 2017
Location: Windlestrae Park
1137 Kenas Road
North Wales, PA 19454
Hospitality will begin at 5PM at the host hotel on September 8th, 2017 • Judges meeting at 6PM and Competitors meeting at 7PM
Region 6 Detector
K9 Officer Chad Smith
& K9 Tychus
Cheltenham Township
Police Department
On January 20, 2017 Chelten-
ham’s Drug Task Force (DTF) con-
ducted a buy/bust for 15 bundles
of heroin. The seller was placed
under arrest when she arrived in
the above Kia SUV after a series of
texts with the undercover officer.
She was arrested without incident
for three prior heroin sales to the
undercover officer. She consented
verbally to searching her car and
indicated the heroin was in the
back seat in a red bag. The search
was also based on probable cause
as well as the consent. Approxi-
mately 15 bundles of heroin (233
bags) were in the bag inside a
white Gucci bag. She was trans-
ported to the PAB by police and
the Kia was driven to for forfeiture.
Following the arrest DTF and
Philadelphia Police went to a home
in the 1300 block of Knorr St. to
14 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
serve a search warrant in regards
to the case. After a knock and an-
nounce no one came to the door.
Entry was forced and a male was
located in a basement bathroom
trying to flush heroin while holding
a minor child. Following a buy/bust
arrest, Officer Smith responded
with K9 Tychus to 1310 Knorr St.
to assist with a search warrant
for narcotics. After the house was
cleared, Smith and Tychus entered
the basement of the residence
and gave Tychus the command
to “find drugs”. K9 Tychus went
into the bathroom, and started
to indicate (bark and scratch) on
the toilet. He also indicated on a
plastic bag that was sitting in the
shower stall. After searching the
remainder of the basement, the
K9 team moved to the kitchen to
continue the search to find drugs
where Tychus began a search and
indicated on a few cabinets in the
kitchen area. The rest of the house
was searched but Tychus did not
show much interest.
After the K9 search, 5 bricks
of heroin (totaling around 1000
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119 Garden Gulf Blvd. North Wales, PA 19454
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For online registration -
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Room Rate: $115.00 per night + Tax
bags) were found in the base-
ment bathroom, 4 of the bricks
were concealed in the rear tank of
the toilet with an additional brick,
floating in the main portion of the
toilet. More heroin and parapher-
nalia were found in the kitchen
area. Total seizure by “bags” is ap-
proximately 1,225 bags of heroin
(including buy/bust). Numerous
other items were seized as listed
on the inventory receipt. The male
was transported to the PAB where
he will be charged along with the
female in the conspiracy to deliv-
er heroin. Both individuals to be
charged with numerous Title 35
violations as well as Title 18 vio-
lations to include Endangering the
Welfare of a Child.
Region 6 Patrol
K9 Officer Donny Bender
& K9 Zoe
Harrisburg Bureau of Police
Track
On 12-6-2016 Susquehanna
Township Police requested Har-
risburg’s K9 for a track of a bur-
PENNSYLVANIA
glary suspect at 1529 hours in a
complex where multiple burglaries
were being committed. There was
a steady downpour of rain during
this deployment. The suspect had
fled and police had established a
perimeter near the scene. K9 Of-
ficer Donny Bender and K9 Zoe
arrived and deployed at the sus-
pects last known location under
a deck behind the residence. K9
Zoe began tracking east along a
fence line and into a wooded area
and then into a parking lot of a
business. The track continued to
the rear of the business, into a
construction site, into a field and
then into two other parking lots
of businesses. In one parking lot
K9 Zoe appeared to have lost the
scent as she entered into a very
heavily traveled street.
On 3-1-2017 Officer Bender was
notified by Susquehanna Township
Police that they had continued
to have burglaries in that same
area over a period of time since
December. In one reported bur-
glary a suspect was stopped and
questioned in a parking lot directly
Region 6
across from where K9 Zoe had lost
the scent in December. During the
police investigation the suspect
who initially would not cooperate
with police was informed that a
K9 had tracked him in Decem-
ber to the same parking lot. The
suspect later provided police with
a full confession resulting in the
clearing of 8 burglaries. During
the confession the suspect de-
scribed his normal route of travel
from the complex of homes which
he had broken into and then fled,
each time taking the same route
to avoid detection. The route pro-
vide to police was the same ex-
act route that K9 Zoe and Officer
Bender had tracked.
Region 6 Patrol
Officer Daniel Rose
& K9 Odin
Montgomery Township
Police Department
I responded to 439 Church Street
at the request of Upper Dublin PD
for a track after several vehicles
were broken into. Upon arrival, I
met with Upper Dublin officers who
advised that they responded to a
call of a theft from vehicle nearby
and while checking the area lo-
cated an additional victim at 439
Church Street where the suspect
had discarded a sweat shirt outside
of the victims vehicle. I deployed
K9 Odin and began my track with
this sweat shirt and began tracking
south on Church Street. K9 Odin
continued to track on the side walk
and alerted to a stolen watch that
was on the sidewalk in front of 421
Church Street. The watch was held
for evidence by Upper Dublin Pd.
K9 Odin continued to track up to
Bannockburn Ave where he made
a right turn and tracked one block
down Bannockburn. K9 Odin cir-
cled around into the alley behind
Bannockburn Ave and came back
out to the intersection of Ban-
nockburn and Church. K9 Odin
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 15
PENNSYLVANIA
then tracked across this with a search warrant ployed K9 Odin for officer safety
intersection onto Am- service at 1130 High as requested should the occupant
bler Rd. K9 Odin Point Circle. The attempt to flee on foot. After con-
tracked south target was Rob- tact was made with the driver it
one block down ert Weyent. I was confirmed that he was target,
Ambler Rd be- was advised to Robert Weyent. County Detectives
fore making a stand by in the arrived and took Weyent into cus-
right turn onto parking lot of Le- tody. After having Weyent sign a
Randolph Ave. high Valley Dairy written consent to search form it
K9 Odin tracked while under cover was requested that K9 Odin con-
up to a vehicle that units observed the duct a narcotic sweep of the ve-
was later found to target house. The hicle. While inside K9 Odin gave
be an additional victim intent was to wait for an indication on the back bench
of theft from vehicle. K9 Weyent to depart the seat and on the rear of the front
Odin passed by the vehicle residence and stop him passenger seat. Upon conducting
going approximately 50 feet be- outside to prevent him from a hand search of these areas 2
fore making a left turn into an open flushing or destroying any evi- small plastic baggies were located
grass field. K9 Odin tracked across dence. At approximately 1730hrs in the rear of the front passenger
the field and up to a tree line. At it was requested that two marked seat along with a blue wax paper
the tree line K9 Odin made a right Upper Gwynedd units and myself baggie with off white powder in it
turn at the tree line and followed stop a vehicle that had pulled with the marking “Explosive”.
it until we encountered a path away from the target location. The All officers reconvened at Lehigh
into the woods. K9 Odin began stop was conducted on Broad St Dairies and assignments were
tracking down the path where he and State St at which time I de- given for the service of the search
encountered two forks in the path,
both times taking the left turn. As
we continued to track K9 Odin
changed his demeanor with his
head up indicating that there was
human odor nearby. At this time, I
shined my light to the left and saw
a male laying down in the thick
brush and trees. The male stood up
and turned to walk away. I imme-
diately began giving the male K9
warnings advising him that I had
a police K9 and to stop and show
his hands. The male immediately
stopped and was detained by the
backup Officer from Upper Dublin
PD without further incident. The
track concluded at this time and
the male was turned over to Upper
Dublin PD for further investigation.
Region 6 Detector
Officer Daniel Rose
& K9 Odin
Montgomery Township
Police Department
On 12/20/16 at 1500hrs I as-
sisted Towamencin Twp PD, Upper
Gywnedd PD, and the County NET,
Region 6
warrant at the target house. In-
telligence received from Weyent
indicated that there were mul-
tiple other people as well as a
Pitbull still inside the residence.
I was instructed to stand by at
the rear of the residence while
entry was made. When entry was
made and all parties located in-
side were secured, including the
dog I was requested to bring K9
Odin in for a narcotics search. K9
Odin was deployed from the top
floor and worked his way down.
Upon checking a bedroom on
the top floor K9 Odin changed
breathing and posture in a draw-
er underneath the bed that was in
the room as well as on a dresser
drawer in the room. K9 Odin then
went to the first floor where he
checked the kitchen and living
room type area with no alerts
given. K9 Odin then checked the
16 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
garage with no alerts given. Upon
entering the basement K9 Odin
changed breathing and posture
in a recliner chair in the middle
of the room. K9 Odin’s demeanor
indicated that he was in odor but
he was still attempting to locate
the source of the odor. K9 Odin
after some time gave a positive
alert on the chair. K9 Odin also
indicated on a small shelving unit
in the room near the glass sliding
door. Nothing was in the shelv-
ing unit however when Detective
Vintner from County Detectives
searched the duct work directly
above the chair where K9 Odin
indicated he located a sock that
contained six bundles of heroin.
The remainder of the basement
was searched with negative re-
sults. All information regarding
the search was relayed to the
investigating officers.
Region 6 Detector
Officer Daniel Rose
& K9 Odin
Montgomery Township
Police Department
I responded to 606 Green Street
to assist the NET team with a
narcotics search of a residence.
Upon arrival members of the net
team advised me that they had
already searched the residence
however requested that I run
the dog for any additional con-
traband. I deployed K9 Odin on
the second floor. Upon entering a
room that was heavily gutted and
under construction K9 Odin im-
mediately changed his breathing
and posture and began checking
high in the room. Based on this
I took him up to the third floor
where he searched the room di-
rectly above the room. K9 Odin
changed breathing and posture
in the middle of the room before
giving a positive alert. A check of
this area revealed a small amount
of marijuana on the floor along
with packaging material in addi-
tion to a .308 caliber rifle, which
was later found to be stolen out
of Lower Potsgrove. The gun
was found in between the floor
PENNSYLVANIA
board of where Odin indicated on
the third floor and the makeshift
ceiling of the second-floor room.
The narcotics and firearm were
turned over to members of the
NET team.
Region 6 Patrol
Officer R. Schwarting
& K-9 Bowie
Bensalem Twp. Police
Department
On Saturday, 5/13/2017, at
1110hrs., Officer Schwarting
and K-9 Bowie responded to a
residential neighborhood in Ben-
salem to attempt an evidence
search. Officer Schwarting was
advised that an armed robbery
had occurred at a Sprint store
and the actor(s) had stolen a gun
from an employee during the
robbery. One of the suspects was
apprehended by a Patrol Officer
and information was received
that he had discarded the hand-
gun prior to being apprehended.
K-9 Bowie conducted an off-
lead search in the areas between
where the actor had fled from
and where he was apprehended.
K-9 Bowie searched all rear and
front yards. At 1150hrs. the initial
article search was terminated.
After giving K-9 Bowie a rest,
Officer Schwarting and K-9
Bowie conducted a second ar-
ticle search which began at
1226 hours. K-9 Bowie began
to search all of the front and rear
yards on Green Ave., not far from
where the suspect was located.
As K-9 Bowie began to make his
way west along Green Ave, fresh
foot prints were observed in a
rear yard. K-9 Bowie began to
search the rear yard. There was
a large garden with ivory grow-
ing in it. K-9 Bowie began to sniff
and circle repeatedly in the area
of the ivory closest in the north-
Region 6 PENNSYLVANIA

ern most part the yard. K-9 Bowie began to
claw at the ivory and his tail began to wag. He
quickly laid down in the ivory. Officer Schwart-
ing approached K-9 Bowie and observed
a Berreta Storm, semiautomatic handgun
(9mm) handgun underneath the ivory resting
between his paws. The article search was
completed 1253 hours. It should also be noted
that it was raining heavily during the course of
the entire search.
Region 6 Detector
Sergeant J. McGinty
& K-9 Ace
Bensalem Twp. Police Department
On Friday, 4/28/17 at approximately
1831hrs., Sergeant McGinty and K-9 Ace
responded to RT. 1 south
bound, just north of South-
ampton Rd. to assist with
a narcotics investigation. A
Patrol Officer had conduct-
ed a vehicle stop and had
indicators of possible drug
trafficking.
A K-9 sniff of the vehicle
was requested. After two
rotations around the vehicle,
K-9 Ace’s head snapped quickly
and he sniffed the open driver’s side
window. His breathing began to increase and
he placed his head into the left front driver’s
window and began to scratch at the door. Both
the passenger side window and driver’s side
windows were open during the sniff. The en-
gine of the vehicle was off and
no occupants were inside the
vehicle during the search.
The vehicle was then towed
to Police HQ to conduct a
search of the vehicle. While
at HQ, a hidden trap was lo-
cated under the third row. The
rug had been glued down to the
seal in order to conceal the top of
the trap.
Located in the trap inside a plastic
container was approximately 1,131.28 grams
of heroin. Approximate street value of $1.5
million. It should be noted that no information
was known about this vehicle prior to it being
stopped.

Region 7 NEW YORK

er responded to the request for assistance

Region 7 Detector from the NYSP with a vehicle stop on I 95. A
Sgt. Anthony Borsella K-9 narcotics detection search was requested
& K9 Hunter and conducted at which time K-9 Hunter did
alert to the rear exterior trunk passenger side
Village of Pelham NY Police Dept. K-9 of the vehicle. A search warrant was obtained
Unit and a search of the interior revealed a hidden
compartment behind the rear seat which con-
On January 25th 2017 at approximately
tained 8 Kilos of Methamphetamine
08:00hrs Sgt. Anthony Borsella and K-9 Hunt-

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 17

Region 9
pect had come out on 3/9/17. He started in
Region 9 Detector the area between Lazy Boy Furniture and the
Officer Michael Sawyer & PSD Carr Homewood Suites properties.
Scarborough Police Department As he got near Payne Road, he directed Carr
to check a wooded berm parallel between the
On 3/9/17 @ approximately 2235 hrs. Of- two properties. Carr went over a snow bank
ficer Sawyer was working patrol with his K9 and began to check. Carr was out of sight
partner, Carr. He was dispatched to Lazy Boy briefly and when Officer Sawyer came over
to assist with a perimeter after a drug suspect the snow bank, he observed Carr in a down
bailed out of a traffic stop and ran position over by a pine tree and
on foot. The Maine State Police some brush. This was a clear
were assisting HIDTA with a nar- indication that Carr had located
cotic take down in the parking lot Carr was out an article. When Sawyer reached
of Walmart in Scarborough. When of sight briefly Carr, he could barely make out a
they went to stop the suspect ve-
hicle, the driver failed to stop. and when Officer piece of what he believed was a
trash bag. Once he reached Carr
The driver pulled into South-
Sawyer came he pulled the bag out wearing
borough Drive and ran on foot. over the snow gloves. Inside Sawyer observed
Maine State Police had a K9 bank, he ob- what he believed were the nar-
on scene and was preparing to cotics in question. Sawyer noti-
search for the suspect. The driver
served Carr in a fied Agent Nappi who responded
later came out of the wood line down position… out to take custody of the items.
and agents took him into custody. Back at the police station Agent
It was believed that the suspect Nappi opened the bag. The trash
had ditched the narcotics in the bag contained approximately 114 grams of
woods somewhere. crack cocaine and 118 grams of heroin.
The Maine State Police K9 unit on scene at-
tempted to locate narcotics by searching the Region 9 Patrol
area but was unable to locate the narcotics.
Officer Zack Finley & K9 Mako
On 3/10/17, Agent Nappi (HIDTA-Scarbor-
ough officer assigned to task force) contacted Portland Police Department
Officer Sawyer and advised that he received On 01/01/2017 at approximately 03:41
information that the suspect did in fact hide hours, I (Officer Zack Finley) was working
the drugs in the woods somewhere. He re- uniformed patrol. Now, I heard other officers
quested that Officer Sawyer use his dog to get dispatched to a motor vehicle accident in-
search the area to possibly locate the narcot- volving 1 vehicle at the intersection of Allen
ics. Officer Sawyer, who was working evening Avenue and Summit Street. Dispatch advised
shift (1600-0000) advised Agent Nappi what that a witness observed the driver leave the
he would be available. scene of the crash on foot. Dispatch could get
the description of a white male, black puffy
At approximately 1630 hrs., Officer Saw-
jacket and the last known location was north
yer went to Southborough Drive to start his
on Summit Street. Sgt. King asked me on the
search. He began to check the wood line with
radio to respond with my K9 partner, Mako, to
Carr starting near Homewood Suites Hotel. He
attempt a track for the suspect.
worked Carr towards the area where the sus-
Upon arrival, I met Officer Brake who was
standing by with the crashed vehicle, a white
1999 Honda Civic that was crashed into the
snowbank. Officer Geib arrived on scene and
was assigned as my backup officer for the
track. We started the track at approximately
03:54 hours. The weather was clear, about 34
degrees, slight wind and the terrain was a mix
18 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
MAINE/ EASTERN CANADA
of snow and slush due to a storm earlier.
I brought Mako out and put him on his track-
ing harness and gave him the command to
track. Mako bracketed at the intersection of
Allen and Summit. Mako did a head snap and
began pulling hard up Summit heading north.
I confirmed the track by pulling tension on the
leash. Mako pulled through the tension and
confirmed the track. The area is residential
and there were no other people walking in the
area.
Mako pulled very hard with his nose down
on the pavement. He remained on the actu-
al roadway of Summit Street and sometimes
bracketed into driveways as scent pooled into
there. Based on training and experience, this
was another confirmation of a hot track. At
about the intersection of Sumac Street, Mako
slowed down and became very meticulous in
his tracking while his nose was on the ground.
There was a section of roadway that had not
been plowed or treated and I observed fresh
shoe impressions in the snow. Mako was put-
ting his nose shoe print to shoe print as we
continued north on Summit. The tracks went
away and Mako kept pulling hard, sometimes
at a full sprint. All along the way I would con-
firm the track by pulling tension on the leash.
At the intersection of Frost Hill Road, Mako
went up onto the sidewalk and across a small
patch of woods towards Frost Hill road. He
was pulling extra hard and showing a proxim-
ity alert. I called for units to come down to the
area since I knew this road was a dead-end.
Mako pulled hard and into the driveway of 11
Frost Hill Road. We observed fresh shoe prints
in the snow going up the driveway. I assumed
that this was going to be the end of the track,
but Mako did a head-snap and pulled to the
right of the house. Mako pulled into the back-
yard behind a garage and to the property line.
He pulled up to a fence and without any com-
mands, jumped the wooden fence and kept
pulling into the backyard of a home on Curtis
Road. Mako kept his nose down to the ground
and pulled onto Curtis heading back towards
Summit Street.
At this intersection of Curtis and Summit,
Mako kept north on Summit. Now, we were
now going the exact way we had just tracked
just minutes prior. However, once at the in-
tersection of Frost Hill, Mako’s nose came
Region 9
up and showed track loss as
he bracketed in the area. He
did another head snap and
now pulled hard down Jack-
son Street towards Auburn
Street. On Jackson Street,
the road surface had spots
where it was not treated and
we observed tracks matching
those we had seen earlier on
Summit. At the intersection of
Auburn and Jackson, Mako
showed track loss in the
parking lot of Eddie’s Variety.
There were fresh vehicle tracks in the lot and
it appeared at the time that the track may have
ended because Mako was not getting anything
as he bracketed in the area. I did a 360 check
of the area and he picked up a scent heading
outbound on Auburn Street. At this point he
was again in a full sprint and I called for units
to saturate the area because of how strong
Mako was pulling.
Mako pulled primarily on the sidewalk con-
tinuing outbound on Auburn Street. Just as
he did before, he would bracket into drive-
Region 10
Region 10 Detector
Cpl. Dan McClung & K-9 Buffy
Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office
On January 27, 2017 @ 14:28 hours I, Cpl.
Dan McClurg K9 Division Grant Parish Sher-
iff’s Office, while on patrol was called to assist
narcotics detectives and Louisiana State Po-
lice at a residence in the town of Colfax, Lou-
isiana also located within the parish of Grant.
While enroute to Colfax, I was dispatched to
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 19
ways, and a couple times
on the opposite side of the
street. Still he continued
outbound. There were ve-
hicles passing by on the
busy street which did not
faze him as he kept his
nose down pulling hard. At
the intersection of Garsoe
Road, Mako pulled up the
hill onto Garsoe now head-
ing east. Mako kept his
nose down on the sidewalk
and we could see random
shoe prints in the snow that appeared like
those seen earlier.
Mako tracked down to Alice Street and again
showed a proximity alert behavior that I rec-
ognize from training and experience. He was
pulling so hard that at one point he caused
me to lose my footing on the ice. Mako kept
pulling on Alice Street until we got to Basket
Lane. Mako pulled onto Basket lane and we
could see fresh footprints on the ground. Mako
was following them footprint by footprint as
he did earlier. At the end of the road, Mako
the residence of 1425 Main Street in refer-
ence to this investigation by our agency Grant
Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana State Police
Drug Task Force. Upon arrival, I deployed K9
Buffy to conduct a clean air sniff around a
number of boxes in which K9 Buffy alerted to
the presence of illegal narcotics on one of the
packages. Upon opening the package a large
amount of crystal like substance was found.
later determined to be methamphetamine and
when weighed was 10.3 lbs. The street value
of the drugs was $464,300 and is believed
MAINE/ EASTERN CANADA
showed the strongest proximity alert and his
posture changed as we came to the driveway
of 26 Basket Lane. Mako went directly into the
driveway and up onto the front porch. Accord-
ing to my GPS program for tracking, the track
was 46:45 minutes long, 2.544 miles long.
Max speed was 9.7 MPH. Please see map for
further details.
Now, Sgt. King and Officer Gervais joined
us. Sgt. King knocked on the door while Of-
ficer Geib watched the rear of the residence.
A male answered the door and officers went
inside. While inside, officers contacted a male
matching the description given by the witness.
Also, this male was registered owner of the
Honda that was crashed. The male was identi-
fied as Benjamin Amaral. Mr. Amaral had only
lived at this address for about a month. Offi-
cers conducted a short interview and based
on probable cause placed him into custody.
The shoes he was wearing matched the treads
that we saw at various times along the track.
He was transported to the Cumberland Coun-
ty jail where he was charged with leaving the
scene of an accident and OUI.
LOUISIANA
to be the largest amount ever seized in Grant
Parish. A 37-year-old male from Alexandria,
Louisiana was arrested and charged with
possession of methamphetamine with intent
to distribute and a number of other federal
charges to be determined. K9 Buffy has been
going through chemo therapy at LSU Animal
Hospital and has still performed her duties
without fail and has an eager passion of the
job of drug interdiction on the highways of our
Parish and I am very proud to refer to her as
my K9 partner.
Region 12
Region 12 Patrol
Deputy Kyle Burton & K9 Yazz
Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office
On 01/04/2017 at approximately 2128 hrs, I
heard Deputy Armstrong say on the radio that
he had a car not stopping southbound 125th
Ave south of 350th Street. A few moments lat-
er, he said the car pulled into 33529 125th
Ave (the Klous residence) and the driver bailed
on foot. I responded to assist with K9. When I
arrived on scene, Deputy Armstrong told me
that he had lost sight of the suspect going past
the Klous residence and west into the woods. I
could see the fresh tracks in the snow.
We were told by Onamia Officer Vee that he
had information that one Eddie Ray Simmons
had been using that car recently and he is
wanted on multiple felony warrants. Dispatch
confirmed this and the descriptors match what
Deputy Armstrong described of the person he
saw run.
I placed a tracking harness and tracking
line on K9 Yazz and walked up to the wood
line north and west of the house where the
tracks were leading into the woods. I gave
2 K9 Warnings and received no response. I
deployed K9 Yazz on a track and he indicat-
ed fresh odor and began to pull hard on the
tracking harness parallel to the fresh snow
tracks to the west initially and then north par-
allel to 125th Ave for about ¼ mile. K9 Yazz
then tracked across 125th Ave and we could
no longer see any foot tracks. K9 Yazz re ac-
quired the track going south down the road
surface and then east into the woods. I could
see the fresh tracks in the snow again at this
point leading into the woods. K9 Yazz contin-
20 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
ued to track intensely into the woods east-
bound to the edge of the Rum River which was
partially frozen. K9 Yazz picked up the track on
the ice southbound along the edge of the open
water for a few hundred yards. K9 Yazz gave
a negative indicating he had lost the track. I
looked across the open water and could see
fresh human tracks in the snow on the other
side of the river to the east. I could see that
the river was about 3 feet deep in this section
and I was not going to take the risk in the -10
temp crossing it.
I followed south for another 150-200 yds.
until I found a spot that was frozen across and
we were able to safely cross with mitigated
risk. We then walked back upstream to where I
had seen those tracks and K9 Yazz re acquired
it and began to pull hard into the woods to
the east for a ways then south through some
very difficult and at times nearly impassible
terrain. After about a half mile or so, K9 Yazz
began to track back towards the river and I
could see the tracks in the snow heading
this way as well. We crossed the Rum River
again back westbound and continued to track
through harsh conditions and terrain until we
came up behind a house in the address of
33226 125th Ave. K9 Yazz continued to track
north across their driveway and north into
the woods. At this point, I noticed a marked
behavior change in K9 Yazz and his intensity
level increased greatly. From experience de-
ploying him hundreds of times, I recognized
this behavior change as him being very close
to source of odor. As I began to track into
some very thick brush, I could hear someone
crashing through the woods ahead of me to
the north and east. I yelled at least a dozen K9
warnings for the person to stop or they would
be bit and received no response. We contin-
ued to track north then east for a short leg
and curved back north along the edge of an
WESTERN MINNESOTA
open area.
K9 Yazz pulled me around the corner of a
thicket which had several pine trees and ap-
prehended the suspect on the upper left back.
He was standing up against a pine tree with
his hands in front of him and I could not see
them. K9 Yazz drug him to the ground and he
turned over to his stomach. I commanded him
to show his hands and he did. His jacket was
ripping and tearing and the suspect was mov-
ing around so K9 Yazz re engaged him on his
left wrist and after this he had both hands out
and remained still. Me security team was still
catching up to me at this point so I left K-9
Yazz on the bite for a short while longer until I
could see they were close. I removed K9 Yazz
from the suspect and told him to lay still and
not move or the dog would re-engage him. He
complied and Deputy Mott placed handcuffs
on him while I continued to hold him at gun-
point. Once he was secured, he was walked
out of the area and placed in squad car. He
was positively identified as one Eddie Ray
Simmons. Sgt Dukowitz took him to the ER for
cold exposure and his K9 Apprehensions.
I could tell at several points in this track that
K9 Yazz’s feet were getting very cold but he
never gave up and continued tracking. The
total length of this track was 2 miles and we
were out in the -10 temp for about 1 hour and
15 minutes.
Region 12 Detector
Trooper Aaron Myren & K9 Argo
Minnesota State Patrol
On March 1, 2017 at 1504 hours, Trooper
Aaron Myren with the Minnesota State Patrol
stopped a 2006 Ford F-150 for obstructed
registration on I-94 in Otter Tail County. Troop-
er Myren spoke to the three male occupants
of the vehicle. The driver advised they flew out
to California and were driving the vehicle back
to Saint Paul. During the traffic stop, Trooper
Myren noted irregular signs of nervousness
when speaking to the driver, conflicting state-
ments on travel plans between occupants,
driver was taking less cost effective route from
Sacramento Area, the vehicle showed signs of
hard driving, recently purchased vehicle from
source area. Trp. Myren suspected the vehicle
and occupants were engaged in criminal activ-
ity, specifically drug trafficking. At the comple-
Region 12
tion of the stop, Trp. Myren requested consent
to search by the driver, who consented to the
cab area only and stated the previous owner
never gave them the key for the tailgate. The
box of the truck had a hard top cover on it
Region 13
Region 13 Patrol
Officer Haggard & K9 Mojo
Nashville Police Dept
Tactical Operations Section
On 02/25/17 at approximately 1930 hours,
Officers Haggard and Holland responded to a
stolen vehicle at the Burning Tree apartments.
Two suspects bailed out of the vehicle and fled
behind the building and over a tall chain link
fence into a wooded area. Officer Haggard
obtained a detailed suspect description and
last known location the suspects were actually
observed by the victim. Officer Haggard and
K9 Mojo then started their track on the other
side of the fence (\vhich was the last know
location). K9 Officer Holland served as back
up. As they started the track, Officer Holland
looked around the corner of the fence and ob-
served 2 suspects matching the description of
the suspects who bailed out the stolen vehicle.
Officer Haggard shouted a K9 warning but the
suspects refused to listen and proceeded to
Region 14
Region 14 Detector
Deputy Patrick Younkin & K9 Blitz
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
On February 13, 2017 at approximately
0605 hours Deputy P. Vigil with the El Paso
County Sheriff’s Office was traveling on I-25
and Academy Exit in El Paso County, Colorado.
He noticed a Blue Ford F-250 traveling north
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 21
that was locked also. Trp. Myren deployed K9
Argo on the exterior of the truck starting on the
downwind side by the tailgate. K9 Argo alerted
by the rear bumper and crawled underneath
the truck trying to pinpoint the source. Argo
take off running in the opposite direction. Of-
ficer Haggard released K9 Mojo and gave him
the command to apprehend. One of the sus-
pects tripped over a short barbed wire fence
and K9 Mojo apprehended him on his right
leg. Suspect I was identified by the victim as
the driver of the stolen vehicle. The 2nd sus-
pect continued to t1ee and attempt was made
to locate that suspect by K9 Officer Holland
and his partner, to no avail.
Canine Courier-Case of the Quarter
Supplement
On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 l was re-
quested by East Crime Suppression Unit to
assist with an ongoing investigation. Detec-
tives asked if I could conduct a free air sniff
around the exterior of the storage unit in an
attempt to obtain enough probable cause for a
search warrant I advised yes. Upon arriving at
the storage facility, I advised that I did not want
to know what storage unit was in question but
for them to show me the general area they
wanted to be searched. I started working the
bound towing a trailer with a vehicle on the
trailer. The Ford F-250 was weaving within the
traffic lane it was driving in. The Ford F-250
began weaving outside of the lanes of traffic
and was entering the other lanes of traffic
heading north bound. Deputy Vigil initiated a
traffic stop on the vehicle.
Deputy Vigil observed the trailer was bear-
ing New Mexico plate 81579J. The vehicle on
the trailer was a silver in color 2005 Chrysler
WESTERN MINNESOTA
returned to the back of the truck, alerted on
the lower seam of the tailgate, and indicated
by sitting. The key was located in the truck and
a search revealed 20 duffle bags containing a
total of 570 lbs. of High Grad Marijuana.
TENNESSEE
area with K9 Scout and he showed a final alert
at storage unit 36-D. I secured my partner and
advised Detectives of the alert on unit 36-D.
After obtaining and serving a search wanant
the following was located and seized:
1. Inside the storage unit 9 bricks of cocaine
weighing approx. 10 kilograms and several
bricks of Heroin weighing approx. 3 kilo-
grams
2. Inside a black safe within the storage unit
was another kilogram of cocaine, several
small bags of cocaine and heroin, and two
loaded handguns.
3. Some mail items with the suspects name
were also located inside the safe with the
narcotics and weapons.
Suspect was subsequently charged with:
Possession w/intent cocaine (GS803 l 99),
Possession w/intent Heroin (08803200), Dan-
gerous Felony/Possession of Firearm w/intent
(08803201), Felon in Possession of a Hand-
gun (OS803202).
COLORADO
Pacifica bearing Colorado license plate DTO-
910. The Ford F-250 was bearing a New Mex-
ico plate HCK-180.
Deputy Vigil contacted the occupants of the
vehicle. During the initial contact, the driver
and passenger both were acting suspiciously
and seemed nervous. Deputy Vigil also learned
from the male driver that he was in possession
of a firearm. Deputy Vigil secured the firearm
and then based on their suspicious behavior
Region 14
asked if he could search the vehicles. When
Deputy Vigil asked the driver of the truck if he
could search his F-250, the female passenger
interrupted and said he could search her car
as well that was on the trailer.
During his search of the vehicle on the trailer,
Deputy Vigil noticed a small drill hole on the
exterior of the back hatch and that the back
hatch would not open. He could not see inside
the small hole, but it appeared something was
inside the hole. He also noted the rear bumper
was also loose. While searching the back-pas-
senger area, he also noticed some of the plas-
tic was broken with a large crack in the plastic
interior.
Deputy Vigil requested EPSO K-9 to come
assist in searching the vehicle. Deputy Patrick
Younkin and his canine partner Blitz respond-
ed to the call. Deputy Vigil advised Deputy
Younkin that the owner of the Chrysler Pacifi-
ca was on scene and gave consent to search
the vehicle.
Canine Blitz was deployed to conduct a sniff
along the exterior and interior of the Chrysler
Pacifica. During the sniff Canine Blitz moved
to the rear of the vehicle’s interior. Canine Blitz
changed his breathing pattern and moved
around in the rear area of the vehicle. Canine
Blitz attempted to paw at the floor board near
the rear door of the vehicle and continued an
altered breathing pattern. Canine Blitz then
moved to a down position in the rear of the ve-
hicle indicating a response to the presence of
narcotic odor. A search of the area where Blitz
alerted by deputies was negative and the vehi-
cle was impounded pending a search warrant.
22 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
COLORADO
Deputy Younkin and Deputy Vigil were later As we were approaching the club house
notified that 10,000 grams of Methamphet- Axel gave a strong head snap and behavior
amine, 1,000 grams of Heroin and 1,000 change and began to pull me hard towards
grams of Cocaine, valued at nearly $4.5 million a blue Chevrolet Suburban that was sitting
per DEA value, were recovered from the vehicle. in the south-east corner of the yard. Axel be-
The narcotics were reportedly hidden in multi- gan to sniff and scratch at a black/gray soft
ple concealed locations along the frame work sided eye glasses case that was lying on the
of the vehicle near the area where Blitz alerted. ground next to the Suburban. I observed the
zip-lock portion of a baggy protruding from
Region 14 Patrol the case. I pointed this out to assisting Offi-
Sgt. Kevin Lampe & K9 Axel cers and we continued to clear the back yard.
We cleared both vehicles and club house and
Finney County Sheriff’s Office did not locate the suspect in the back yard. I
On Thursday 02/09/17 at approximately was advised that the owners of the residence
10:06 hrs. I overheard the Garden City Police wanted the residence cleared also, and had
Department Officer go in pursuit with a ma- given consent to search the residence. I ob-
roon Mercury Sable bearing KS tag 107JUH. served that the back walk in garage door was
The Officer advised that the pursuit was west open along with the walk-in door that leads to
on Spruce St from the Bypass. Dispatch con- the residence. I gave 3 loud verbal commands
firmed that I overheard the traffic reference “Sheriff’s Office K-9 suspect come out or I will
the pursuit. I advised that I was on the way send in the dog”. After no response from in-
to assist with my K-9 from Industrial Dr and side the garage I released K-9 Axel. The sus-
E U50 Hwy. pect was not located inside the garage. I then
A short time later the GCPD sat up at the house door and
Officer advised that the vehicle gave 3 more loud commands,
had crashed at the intersection A short time later after no response I released K-9
of Spruce St and Campus Dr. Axel to search the residence.
and that the driver had fled on
the GCPD Officer We cleared the kitchen, living
foot south from the vehicle. The advised that the room and front entry way and
Officer advised that the suspect began to work down the hall-
was a Hispanic male wearing a
vehicle had crashed way when we were advised that
black cap, white shirt and black at the intersection a subject matching the suspect
jeans and that he had jumped description had jumped into a
of Spruce St and dumpster located next to the
the fence into the back yard at
1912 E Spruce St. I arrived on Campus Dr. and Community Day Care Building
scene at 10:10 hrs. I pulled into that the driver had approximately 1 block away. I
the alley west of the residence. exited the residence and drove
I observed several GCPD Offi- fled on foot… to the area of the Community
cers around the perimeter of the Day Care. On scene, we were
back yard. GCPD was talking to advised that the dumpster was
two Hispanic males at the back gate. I retrieved located approximately 1 block away behind a
K-9 Axel from my patrol unit and placed him on business complex. I then moved to that loca-
lead. I entered the back yard along with sever- tion and observed approximately 5 dumpsters
al GCPD Officers. I gave numerous loud verbal in the alley way.
warnings “Finney County Sheriff’s Office K-9 I observed a GCPD officer approaching the
show yourself or I will send the dog”, we got no far south dumpster with his weapon drawn
response. I began to clear the yard along with giving loud verbal commands for the suspect
several GCPD units as cover. There were two to come out. I removed my K-9 from my pa-
vehicles and an elevated club house in the back trol unit and placed him on lead due to the
yard. I continued to give loud verbal commands number of Officers arriving on scene and
as we cleared the back yard. running to that location. As I began to move
Region 14
to the location of the Officers, Axel gave me
a hard head snap and began to pull me very
hard to a set of 3 dumpsters located approx-
imately 30 yards north of where the Officers
were setting up. Axel began to work the cen-
ter dumpster very hard by sniffing around the
bottom of the dumpster. Axel then began to
bark, scratch and was attempting to jump up
on the dumpster. I motioned to a KHP Trooper
that had arrived on scene to come to my lo-
cation as Axel was alerting to the dumpster.
Several other Officers also arrived at my loca-
Region 16
Region 16 Patrol
K9 Sgt. Gary Craig/ K9 Pako
Cahokia Police Department
On 02/19/2017 at approximately 2213
hours, K9 Pako and I were on patrol, when
I heard a patrol unit initiate a traffic stop on
Camp Jackson Road at Paris Avenue on a Blue
2005 Chevrolet Impala. The officer advised,
via police radio, that the suspect vehicle was
failing to stop and was a possible DUI driver.
The officer advised the suspect vehicle was
continuing south on Paris Avenue. The officer
advised the suspect vehicle turned west onto
Doris Avenue.
I pulled my vehicle into the parking lot of
1400 Doris Avenue and removed my depart-
ment issued spike strips from the trunk of my
vehicle. I placed the strips on the north side
of the roadway, and advised pursuing units of
my location.
I observed the suspect vehicle and pursuing
patrol vehicles approaching my location. As
the suspect vehicle approached my location,
I pulled the spike strips across the roadway. I
observed the suspect vehicle strike the spike
strips and heard the air leaking from the tires.
I returned to my patrol vehicle and attempt-
ed to catch the suspect vehicle. I was able to
catch up the suspect vehicle near the 600
block of Mildred Avenue. I was able to pull up
to the lead of the pursuit and see that all four
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 23
tion. I gave several loud verbal commands for
the suspect to come out of the dumpster and
got no response I reached up and opened the
lid to the dumpster. The dumpster was filled
with large blue trash bags. I could not see the
suspect inside the dumpster. I reached inside
and moved one of the trash bags, now I could
see the lower part of a blue jeans pant leg.
The Trooper and several Officers assisted the
suspect from inside the dumpster. Once the
suspect was out of the dumpster I could see
that he matched the description that we were
tires on the suspect vehicle were deflated from
the spike strips. We continued to pursue the
suspect vehicle as it turned right onto Falling
Springs Road and traveled north. The suspect
vehicle continued traveling on Falling Springs
Road until it turned left on Jerome Lane and
began traveling west. The suspect vehicle
continued on Jerome Lane until it turned left
onto White Street and then right on Judith
Street. The suspect vehicle traveled west on
Judith Street until it made an abrupt right and
stopped in the front yard of XX Judith Street.
I observed the suspect vehicle’s front driver’s
side door open and a black male exit from the
vehicle. The male subject begin running to-
wards the front of the residence. I exited my
patrol vehicle and began giving K9 warnings
at the suspect. The suspect refused to follow
my commands and continued to run towards
the front door of the residence. The suspect’s
hands were concealed from my view, but I
observed him entered the front door of the
residence. The front door appeared to be un-
locked by how quickly the suspect entered the
residence.
Due to the suspect fleeing in a vehicle, flee-
ing on foot, entering an unknown residence
and possibly actively committing a home inva-
sion, I deployed K9 Pako from the rear of my
patrol vehicle. K9 Pako, assisting officers, and
I all ran to the front door of the residence. At
the front door, K9 Pako scratch, claw and bite
at the front door. I was able to grab and control
COLORADO
given when he fled from the crash site. The
suspect was taken into custody without inci-
dent.
MISSOURI • ILLINOIS
K9 Pako by his flat collar. I grabbed the handle
of the front door, which I observed the suspect
run into. I found the door to be locked. Due
to the situation and exigent circumstances, I
kicked in the front door and made entry into
the residence. As the door opened I observed
a second black male standing just inside the
front door. I immediately knew the male was
not the suspect. I yelled at male and asked
him where the suspect went. The second male
pointed west towards the kitchen area of the
residence. Still holding K9 Pako by the flat col-
lar, I pulled my weapon from its holster and
began going through the kitchen area towards
a hallway. I cleared the kitchen and heard
loud movement coming from the northwest
bedroom of the hallway. Believing the suspect
was in the back bedroom, I began giving loud
verbal commands for him to come out of the
bedroom or I was going to release the K9 and
he was going to be bit. I heard a female voice
advise there were “babies” in the bedroom. A
female opened the door of a bedroom. The fe-
male pointed to the room where I believed the
suspect was in. I continued to give loud verbal
K9 warnings towards the suspect in hopes
that he would exit the room and surrender. K9
Pako continued to focus down the hallway. K9
Pako did not pay any attention to the female.
Seconds later, I heard a male voice come
from the bedroom advising he had babies. I
observed the suspect appear from around the
continued on page 41
Region 16
door of the northwest bedroom. The suspect
was holding two fourteen month old children
in his arms. The suspect advised me he had
the babies and advised me to not release the
dog. The suspect clutched both children in
front of his chest. The suspect appeared to
use the children as a shield against K9 Pako.
I took a defensive position and began giving
the suspect loud verbal commands to put the
children down. The suspect refused to follow
my commands and continued to hold the
children. I observed a female, who was later
identified as the grandmother of the children;
appear from another bedroom in the hallway.
I continued to yell for suspect to put down
the children. I observed the grandmother go
past me and grab one of the children from the
suspect. The grandmother stood between K9
Pako and I. The grandmother failed to comply
with the commands to exit the area, and ap-
peared to be confused on the situation. The
suspect continued to hold one of the infants
in his hands and asked if he could smoke a
cigarette. I advised the suspect to put down
the child and get on the ground. The suspect
refused to follow my commands and contin-
ued to hold the small infant as a shield. At this
time I still was unaware if the suspect resided
at the residence or if he was related to the two
small children he was using as shields.
K9 Pako and I moved down the hallway to-
wards the suspect and entered a bathroom.
In the bathroom, I concealed the majority of
my and K9 Pako’s body. By entering the bath-
room, I was able to allow a pathway for the
grandmother and the infant she held to exit
the hallway and get into the safety of the kitch-
en. I yelled for the grandmother to exit the hall-
way, but she failed to do so. I instructed an
assisting officer, who was standing in a defen-
sive position in the hallway on the kitchen side,
to get the infant which the grandmother was
holding. The officer grabbed the infant from
the grandmother and then instructed her to
exit the hallway. The grandmother followed the
officer’s commands and exited the hallway.
Once the grandmother exited the hallway, I
again instructed the suspect to put down the
child. The suspect continued to refuse to fol-
low the commands and continued to ask for
a cigarette. I instructed for assisting officers
24 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
to grab the child from the suspect and the of-
ficer moved past K9 Pako and I and grabbed
the child from the suspect. The officer quickly
snatched the child from the suspects arm. The
assisting officer moved the child to safety in
the kitchen.
Once both children out of harm’s way, I
gave him several loud commands to get on
the ground. The suspect turned his body and
attempted to move back down the hallway to-
wards the northwest bedroom again.
Fearing the suspect was going to utilize an-
other subject as a human shield, continue to
attempt to flee, or retrieve a weapon, I gave
K9 Pako the apprehension command and
released him. K9 Pako ran down the hallway
and apprehended the suspect on the inside of
his right leg just above the knee. The suspect
dropped to the ground and began attempting
to forcefully remove K9 Pako from the appre-
hension. I gave loud verbal commands for the
suspect to lie on his stomach and place his
hands behind his back. The suspect strug-
gled with K9 Pako and I for several seconds
before he complied with the commands. K9
Pako was removed from the apprehension and
escorted down the hallway while the suspect
was taken into custody by assisting officers.
K9 Pako was escorted back to my vehicle and
placed in the rear of it. The suspect received
medical treatment at a local hospital and was
later transport to the Cahokia Police Depart-
ment. It was later found the two infants, whom
the suspect used as shields, were in fact his
children and the residence was his mother’s.
It was also found that there was a third child
inside the bedroom that the suspect attempt-
ed to return to just before the apprehension.
The suspect was later charged with nu-
merous traffic charges, unlawful possession
of cannabis, aggravated fleeing and eluding,
resisting/obstructing a peace officers, and two
counts of child endangerment.
Region 16 Detector
K9 Sgt. Gary Craig & K9 Pako
Cahokia Police Department
On 02/17/2017 at approximately 0800
hours, K9 Pako and I were off duty when I was
contacted by K9 Officer Zack Hopkins, of the
MISSOURI • ILLINOIS
Columbia Police Department, in reference to
a K9 assist. Officer Hopkins advised on 2-12-
17 several police departments from the state
of Missouri pursued a vehicle into Illinois, via
Interstate 255. Ofc. Hopkins advised the sus-
pect vehicle and suspect were wanted for ag-
gravated battery to a police officer, burglary,
and fleeing and eluding and several other
charges. The suspect driver was identified
and said to be armed with a handgun during
the pursuit. Ofc. Hopkins stated prior to Co-
lumbia Police Department arriving to assist in
the pursuit, Missouri police departments lost
sight of the suspect vehicle while in Columbia
Illinois. Ofc. Hopkins advised the vehicle was
later recovered unoccupied at the intersection
of Quarry Road and Rueck Road near the Briar
Lakes Subdivision just hours after the pur-
suit. Ofc. Hopkins advised several days after
the vehicle was recovered, Columbia Police
Department had received multiple reports of
subjects searching different areas of the Briar
Lakes Subdivision. Ofc. Hopkins stated his de-
partment believed the subjects searching the
area were involved with the suspect vehicle.
A subsequent investigation by the Columbia
Police Department revealed a subject, who
was a passenger inside the suspect vehicle at
the time of the pursuit, advised approximate-
ly one thousand dollars in methamphetamine
was hidden somewhere in the neighborhood
by the suspect driver on the 12th after fleeing
the suspect vehicle. Few details were given
about the narcotics, but they were said to be
inside some kind of container.
Ofc. Hopkins stated fearing a juvenile or
animal from the neighborhood may find the
narcotics, he was requested I assist with K9
Pako in searching the large neighborhood. The
neighborhood contained approximately one
hundred houses and is surrounded by wooded
area. Due to the time of year a large amount of
leaves and other foliage covered the ground.
K9 Pako and I responded to the scene with
K9 Officer Hopkins, his K9 partner, and an-
other K9 team from Monroe County Sheriff’s
Office. All three K9 teams were divided up and
given an area they would be responsible for
searching. K9 Pako was placed in a tracking
harness and placed on a fifteen foot lead. K9
Pako and I went to the southwest corner of
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 25
 COMBATING THE
EFFECTS OF K-9 STRESS
S
tress is a daily job-related occurrence for your K-9.
Combating work- or training-related stress involves
maintaining a K-9’s physical and mental health
through proper conditioning, scheduled downtime and
targeted nutrition.
A well-rounded conditioning approach involves
physical and mental care. Conditioning helps ensure
your K-9 partner is healthy, performs to his or her
potential, and is in peak shape to help fight the effects
of stress.
Conditioning a dog physically is the process of
getting a K-9’s joints and muscles in good shape. When
a dog is properly conditioned and asked to do something
that takes great physical effort, he or she is less likely
to get hurt and also can quickly recover from the
resulting stress.
“Most healthy K-9s can recover from strenuous
physical tasks within 24 hours,” says Ricky Farley,
owner and operator of Alabama Canine Law Enforce-
ment Officer’s Training Center in Northport, Alabama,
a facility that specializes in training working dogs.
With a 12-hour workday that consists of five to
six training sessions between 30 to 45 minutes each,
K-9s at Farley’s facility are offered many break oppor-
tunities. Along with frequent rest periods, Farley
ensures K-9s are properly fueled to endure by feeding
them Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20
Salmon & Rice Formula, which contains 30 percent
protein and 20 percent fat. These high levels of protein
and fat help increase a dog’s capacity to metabolize
fat and allows him or her to optimize oxygen metabo-
lism. Increased fat metabolism and higher oxygen

Ricky Farley, owner and operator of Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Center in Northport, Alabama, and “Charlie,” his
15-month-old German Shepherd Dog, pose in front of a training obstacle course made of metal drums. Farley teaches dogs to climb the
challenging steep course to help build confidence.

26 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

 WORKING TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY
IMMUNE SYSTEM

A rigorous training and work schedule

can cause stress that can affect a
dog’s immune system. To help support
your K-9’s immune system health, keep
a supply of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary
Diets Fortiflora canine probiotic supple-
ment handy. Prescribed by veterinarians,
this supplement contains a special strain
of probiotic that
works to restore
normal intestinal
microflora.
After consulting
with your veterinar-
ian, consider starting
Fortiflora a couple
of days before strenuous
activity to increase levels of beneficial
bacteria and promote a strong immune
system.

capacity help raise metabolic capacity “ONE OF THE BEST in rest to ensure their K-9’s overall
and generate energy, which results in
better performance and endurance
THINGS A HANDLER well-being. Farley believes one key
contributor to mental stress in K-9s is
while working or training. CAN DO FOR HIS OR anxiety. Signs of mental stress could
“Feeding a nutrient-dense food high HER K-9 IS TO include heavy panting in cool environ-
in protein and fat means you do not
have to feed an excessive amount to
BE PATIENT AND ments, a low-hanging head, the tuck-
ing of ears and tail, and appearing
maintain your dog’s weight. Your K-9 TAKE THE TIME physically exerted even when rested.
will eat less and thus have less volume NECESSARY TO At Farley’s facility, K-9s are trained
in his or her stomach, which may make five days a week and are rested the
him or her more comfortable when
REST THE DOG.” other two days. Regular downtime is
working,” says Brian Zanghi, PhD, Ricky Farley, owner and operator, encouraged because it allows handlers
Purina Senior Research Nutritionist. Alabama Canine Law Enforce- to spend leisure time with their K-9s.
ment Officer’s Training Center.
While targeted nutrition can help A rest day for a working K-9 at Farley’s
your partner recover from regular facility includes long, relaxing walks,
work- and training-related stress, environmental socialization with other dogs, and plenty of handler
factors such as heat will require a varied approach. affection and time alone.
When your K-9 heavily pants, stumbles and refuses “One of the best things a handler can do for his or
to work, he or she is showing signs of extreme phys- her K-9 is to be patient and take the time necessary
ical stress from overheating and needs immediate to rest the dog. Rest days for K-9s, which involves
veterinary attention. scheduled quiet time in their kennels and also games
“At our center, to help prevent extreme overheating, like wind sprints with the dog’s favorite toy, must be
we rest and isolate the dog and offer small amounts, part of the training routine,” he says.
no more than 15 laps, of cool water throughout the Patrol shifts and the training sessions needed
day during exercise,” Farley says. to maintain a K-9’s physical and mental sharpness
Tackling the effects of physical stress is just one require long hours and endurance from you and
part of ensuring a K-9’s overall health. Scheduled your dog. Caring for a K-9’s physical and mental
downtime is part of conditioning a dog mentally. health is a fundamental way to fight the effects
Experienced handlers understand a dog’s mental of stress to ensure your partner performs to his
acuity is as important as physical health and factor or her potential. ■
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 27
28 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
ATTENDEES RECEIVE Trainer’s Corner
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30 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
 National Detector Dog
Trials & Certification
North Carolina Bureau
of Investigation
Raleigh, N.Carolina
April 2-5, 2017

Chief Judge J. R. Hauversburk (Center) Scorekeepers: Roxanne Darnell,

Host Chairperosn Ken Mathias (Left) Deb Paige (Chief Scorekeeper), Arlene Love
National President Jason Brodt (right)

President’s Award- Host

Department Plaque
Sponsored by Purina
The President’s Award is
presented to the host
department recognizing
the support given to their
officers in hosting a national
event. The President’s
Award is presented to:
North Carolina State Bureau
of Investigations

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 31

32 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com17| 33
 TED HIRSCH MEMORIAL AWARD (host chair of trials) Sponsored by Purina
The Ted Hirsch Memorial Award is presented in recog- Miami, Florida. Ted Hirsch was also the President of the
ni#on of all of the many countless hours and prepara#on Police K-9 Associa#on, having changed its name from
#me devoted in order to conduct a na#onal event. It is the Florida K-9 Associa#on the year before. In 1971 the
awarded in memory of Ted Hirsch, who was the Chair- Police K-9 Associa#on evolved into The United States
man of the first Police Service Dog Trials in 1968, in Police Canine Associa#on, Inc.
The 2017 recipient of the Ted Hirsch Memorial Award is: Ken Mathias

34 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

 Bill Robinson
Sportsmanship Award:
Sponsored by Ace K9
This award is given to the K-9 team that
displays the highest degree of sportsman-
ship in action or attitude toward their dogs,
other competitors and the judges through-
out the week-long series of events.
The Bill Robinson Memorial Award is giv-
en in memory of Bill Robinson of Newburg,
New York. Bill was killed in the line of duty
during a domestic disturbance call, just af-
ter the USPCA Natonals were held in New-
burg New York.
This year’s Bill Robinson Sportsmanship
Award is presented to:
Joe Angarone – Mercer County NJ
Prosecutors Office

USPCA LifeTme Achievement Award:

(Sponsored by Criminalistics, Inc.)
The USPCA Russ Hess Life#me Achievement Award is
awarded to “individual(s) who, during their life#mes, have
made significant and selfless contributions to the field of
K9.” The award is designed to be presented once a year
at the National Detector Dog Trials. It is not designed
or intended to be given to business sponsors but to an
individual(s) and not necessarily a USPCA member. Any
USPCA member or Region can submit nominees to the
awards commicee for consideration.
THE USPCA LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD
is presented to: R.O. Rogers

March | April | May 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 35

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36 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

Explosive Detection Dog:

**ties broken by time

Explosives Region Team Awards Top 3

Top Explosives Department Team

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 37

 Overall Explosive

Cadaver Overall

38 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

Narcotic Detection Regional Team Awards
Narcotic Indoor Awards

Narcotic Vehicle Awards

Top Department Team – Narcotics

Narcotics Overall

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 39

 Detector Dog CASE OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to Baton Rouge, LA.
Police Cpl. Luke Cowart and his K9
“Rukus”, a USPCA certified narcotic
detecting K9 (Region 10). K9 Rukus
was allowed to conduct an open air
sniff around the exterior of a vehicle.
K9 Rukus showed odor response and
came to final alert by scratching on the
gas cap of the vehicle, indicating she
was in the presence of an illegal nar-
cotic odor.
A subsequent search involved remov-
ing the fuel pump on the gas tank of
the vehicle, which revealed 15 vacuum
sealed packages weighing a total of
14 lbs of cocaine floating in the gas
within the gas tank. The cocaine was
seized, and 3 subjects were arrested.
Good Training
Good Execution
Job well done!

Monza Award: Sponsored by American Aluminum

The Monza Award is presented to the handler of a K-9
killed in the line of duty.
History of the Monza Award
This award is named after Mr. Don Bartel’s first dog, K-9
Monza. On October 7, 1969, at about 03:00, Metropoli-
tan D.C. Police Officer Don Bartel & K-9 Monza respond-
ed to a business burglary and apprehended five burglars.
Later that morning, K-9 Monza was very uncomfortable,
and Don knew he was seriously ill. The dog was rushed
to the department’s veterinarian’s office. K-9 Monza was
in stress from the early morning encounter with the five
burglars and died in Don’s arms. The Monza Award was
established in Richmond, Virginia, in 1969. The 2016
recipient of the Monza award is: Nicholas Kent from
Forest Lake, PD

40 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

Region 16 MISSOURI • ILLINOIS

continued from page 23
the neighborhood and I gave him
the narcotic search command.
K9 Pako began checking both
the wooded area behind the res-
idences along with the perimeter
of the exterior of the residences.
While searching the backyard
of a residence I observed K9 Pa-
ko’s breathing and body posture
to have a drastic change, and I
was able to identify him to be in
narcotic odor. K9 Pako continued
to have abnormal breathing while
his head pointed up and down-
wind. From prior training and
experience I believed K9 Pako
was air scenting. K9 Pako began
pulling towards the south side of
606 Briar Lake Place. As K9 Pako
neared the back of the residence
he began bracketing on the back
of the residence. K9 Pako worked
to the southeast side of the res-
idence and I observed his body
gesture change and he squared
up to the residence. I observed
K9 Pako began giving an ag-
gressive indication on a pile of
leaves which were laying against
the residence. As K9 Pako con-
tinued his indication I observed a
red pouch appear from under the
leaves.
I advised my assisting units of
the item and it was recovered
and photographed. A search of
the container revealed several
bags of purported methamphet-
amine with the approximately
weight of 38.1 grams. Also in the
containing was a digital scale. A
field test revealed a positive test
for methamphetamine. Less than
a hundred yards of the location of
the narcotics were children’s toys
and a small jungle gym.

Region 18 EASTERN MINNESOTA • WISCONSIN

2017 Basic Patrol Dog School • 05-25-2017

Officer Brady Harrison & Canine Eddie
St. Paul Police Department
Officer Chad DeGree & Canine Ozzy
St. Paul Police Department
Officer Joe Ryan & Canine Bogey
St. Paul Police Department
Officer Kong Xiong & Canine Diesel
St. Paul Police Department
Officer Chris Persing & Canine Razor
MN DOC- Faribault
Deputy Jim Goham & Canine Valor
Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Lauren Smith & Canine Jet
Burnsville Police Department
Officer Mike Bengtson & Canine Ike
Edina Police Department
Officer Dean Bauers & Canine Riggs
Duluth Police Department
Officer Aaron Haller & Canine Haas
Duluth Police Department
Deputy Dustin Geisness & Canine Roky
Saint Croix County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy John Shilts Jr & Canine Garza
Saint Croix County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Robert Larson & Canine Badger
Hudson Police Department
Officer Adam Marvin & Canine Cannon
Faribault Police Department
Officer Jeff Harriman & Canine Lacka
Superior Police Department
Deputy Erik Rollie & Canine Melee
Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Dennis Nelson & Canine Oscar
Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Nick Ovaska & Canine Chase
Ashland Police Department
Deputy Rian Jones and Canine Jango
Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office
“Basic Patrol Dog Instructor’s Course”
Officer Chris Persing
MN DOC- Faribault
Deputy Jim Goham
Goodhue County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Todd Trobaugh
Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 41

Region 18
Region 18 Patrol
Line of Duty Death of K9
Officer Nick Kent & K-9 Ranger
Forest Lake Police Department
Forest Lake, MN
On the evening of 2/7/17 Officer Nick Kent
and K9 Ranger were requested to assist the
Minnesota State Patrol on a traffic stop of a ve-
hicle that had led the trooper on a short pursuit.
Upon the arrival of Officer Kent and Ranger the
vehicle was stopped and the occupants were
being given commands. There were two occu-
pants in the vehicle and the front seat passen-
ger complied with commands and exited the
vehicle and was taken into custody. Officers
on scene continued to give commands to the
driver who was continuing to not comply. The
driver then restarted the vehicle and attempted
to drive away from the traffic stop. The passen-
ger side window was then removed from the
vehicle which made the driver stop and put the
vehicle into park. Officer Kent then deployed
Ranger through the open passenger window
and made the apprehension on the driver. The
driver continued to fight with Ranger while in
the vehicle but Ranger did not give up the ap-
prehension. The driver and Ranger were then
removed from the vehicle and the driver was
taken into custody and Ranger was removed
from the apprehension.
Officer Kent the placed Ranger back into his
squad car and completed other tasks as need-
ed. Officer Kent then heard a yelp from Ranger
42 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
EASTERN MINNESOTA • WISCONSIN
and nothing else. During the time that Officer down. Officer Torning and Gunnar completed
Kent had worked with Ranger he knew that this the exterior sniff of the vehicle and there were
was not right. Officer Kent checked on Ranger no other indications observed by Officer Torn-
in the back of the squad car and found him ing that Gunnar had located the odor of narcot-
to be unresponsive and not breathing. Officer ics. Officer Torning and K9 Gunnar then moved
Kent then removed Ranger from to an interior sniff of the vehicle.
the squad car and began giving During the interior sniff, Officer
chest compressions to Ranger. Torning observed Gunnar to have
Officer Kent and Ranger were K9 Gunnar began a change in behavior at the area
both transported via ambulance to air scent and between the driver’s seat and the
to the University of Minnesota
Veterinary Hospital. While en- then moved to center console. K9 Gunnar was
taking deep sniffs, focusing on
route Officer Kent and a para- checking areas on that specific area, and his body
medic continued to give chest
compressions and ventilations his own without stiffened up while checking that
area. Officer Torning took note of
to Ranger. Upon arrival to the being directed. that area and continued with the
hospital, Officer Kent hand- interior sniff. Officer Torning di-
ed over care of Ranger to vet rected K9 Gunnar to the second
staff for further care. Vet staff row of seating in the vehicle at
were unable to revive Ranger and he was pro- which point K9 Gunnar began to air scent and
nounced deceased on 2/8/17 at 0038 hrs.
then moved to checking areas on his own with-
Officer Kent and K9 Ranger were skilled out being directed. K9 Gunnar then showed an
in their craft and humble in their knowledge. interest around a car seat that was in the sec-
Officer Kent and Ranger were dedicated to ond row with multiple items underneath it on
their trade continuing to train hard and gain the floorboard of the vehicle. K9 Gunnar then
knowledge to better serve the City of Forest gave a head snap in the direction of the items
Lake and neighboring communities that they on the floor and stuck his head into the pile of
served. Ranger will be missed by all that had items. K9 Gunnar then took deep sniffs while
the opportunity to see him in action and work his head was in the pile of items and then sat
alongside of him.
and focused on the items. Officer Torning also
took note of this area and completed the inte-
Region 18 Detector
rior sniff of the vehicle with no other indicators
Officer Nils Torning & K-9 Gunnar observed. K9 Gunnar was then removed from
the vehicle and placed back into the squad
Cottage Grove Police Department,
car. The search of the vehicle found that under
Cottage Grove, MN the front seat of the vehicle there was a small
On the evening of 2-22-17 Officer Torning and amount of marijuana located. In the second
his K-9 partner Gunnar assisted the Minnesota row floor area where K9 Gunnar sat, Officers
State Patrol with a Controlled Substance sniff and Troopers located a gallon size plastic bag
of a vehicle that the Trooper had stopped. The full of marijuana.
Trooper advised that he could smell the odor In total, there was 218.5g of marijuana and
of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. a cash forfeiture of $1,629 for the Minnesota
The Trooper advised Officer Torning that he was State Patrol due to the hard work and dedica-
going to search the vehicle due to the odor that tion of Officer Torning and K9 Gunnar.
he could smell. Officer Torning offered to have
his certified detector K9 Gunnar conduct a sniff
of the vehicle and the Trooper accepted his of-
fer. Officer Torning began an exterior search of
the vehicle with K9 Gunnar. Gunnar showed an
interest on the interior of the vehicle and both
of the front windows of the vehicle were rolled
Region 19
Region 19 Detector
Officer Dominic Vicari & K9 Atos
Village of Armada Police Department
On February 18, 2017 Officer Dominic and K9
Atos conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for
speeding. Upon contact with the driver, a strong
odor of burnt marijuana was coming from the
vehicle. When the driver was questioned about
the odor, he admitted that he had just smoked
marijuana in the vehicle a few minutes prior to
being stopped. At that time, Officer Vicari de-
ployed K9 Atos to perform a K9 sniff of the ve-
hicle. Atos started his sniff of the exterior of the
vehicle and immediately pulled to the trunk of
the vehicle. Atos gave a positive indication on
the trunk. Officer Vicari proceeded to open the
trunk, but no marijuana was located. K9 Atos
then jumped in the trunk and began to indicate
on the floor of the trunk. Officer Vicari con-
ducted a thorough physical search in the area
where Atos indicated. Officer Vicari was able to
locate a hidden compartment in the floorboard
of the trunk. Inside the hidden compartment
Officer Vicari located 10 pounds of marijuana
and one hundred pills of Adderall. The suspect
was arrested and is cooperating with the drug
task force.
Region 19 Patrol
Officer Dustin Cook & K9 Jett
Wyoming Department of
Public Safety
On February 12, 2017, Officers from the
Wyoming Department of Public Safety were
dispatched to an intrusion alarm, including
Officer Dustin Cook and his K9 partner Jett.
Upon being dispatched, Officer Cook knew this
address to contain a medical marijuana grow
operation as it had been the target of prior bur-
glaries in recent weeks, however no suspects
were apprehended in these attempts. While
responding, he heard another officer state
over the radio that he was on scene and ob-
served two suspects wearing all black exiting
the building and were now running on foot. The
other officer began calling out the foot chase
of the two suspects and stated they were run-
ning eastbound towards Wal-Mart. During this
radio traffic, Officer Cook was approximately
¼ mile from the alarm location. The other offi-
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 43
cer continued updating the location of the foot
pursuit and stated that the suspects were now
attempting to get into a black Chevrolet Monte
Carlo, which was parked at another business
directly north of the incident location. The other
officer observed several furtive movements by
both suspects near the suspect vehicle, choos-
ing to take cover at a safe distance, knowing
that Officer Cook would soon be arriving.
Upon arrival, Officer Cook positioned his patrol
vehicle near the driveway approach of where
the suspect’s vehicle was parked. The other of-
ficer radioed to him that he was in the correct
location, and the suspects were now running
westbound towards my location. Both suspects
ran west with the oth-
er officer giving chase
on foot. Upon the sus-
pects passing the pa-
trol car, Officer Cook
told the other officer
to stop chasing, as K9
Jett was going to be
released to apprehend
the suspect. K9 Jett
was removed from my
patrol car and the sus-
pects were ordered
to stop or a Police
K9 would apprehend
them. Upon this command being given, one
suspect was out of sight and running northwest
along a creek embankment, while the other
suspect was still visible and continued directly
west along a wood line behind a business. Offi-
cer Cook and K9 Jett gave chase after the sus-
pect that ran directly west. While running after
the suspect who was approximately 40 yards
in front of them, Officer Cook gave one final
command for the suspect to stop and surren-
der, however he failed to comply. While giving
this command, K9 Jett was sent to apprehend
the suspect. As K9 Jett was quickly closing the
distance on the suspect, Officer Cook observed
the suspect reach towards his waist with his
left hand as he continued running away.
Soon thereafter, the suspect produced a
handgun in his left hand, and quickly discarded
the weapon from his person. K9 Jett continued
to pursue the suspect, and upon reaching him,
K9 Jett leapt into the air, jumping onto the sus-
pect’s back, tackling him to the ground. Upon
both K9 Jett and the suspect landing on the
MICHIGAN • CANADA
ground, K9 Jett disengaged from the suspect
due him being unable to penetrate the sus-
pect’s heavy leather jacket. The subject then
proceeded to get up on his hands and knees,
and K9 Jett again apprehended the suspect,
grabbing on to his left thigh without command.
Officer Cook was shortly behind K9 Jett and
the suspect, and when in close proximity, he
ordered the suspect to stop resisting and K9
Jett would be released. K9 Jett was ordered
to leave the suspect and Jett complied, return-
ing to me and lying down. I held the suspect at
gunpoint until the other officer arrived to assist
in taking the suspect into custody. A search of
the suspect also resulted in locating $700 in
fake US currency. The firearm was also later to
be found stolen out
of the City Of Grand
Rapids. This was K9
Jett’s first appre-
hension in our three
years of service.
After this suspect
was secured, there
was an approximate
5 minute time de-
lay and the second
suspect was still
outstanding. Officer
Cook and K9 Jett,
along with other backup Officers conducted a
K9 track attempting to locate the second sus-
pect. K9 Jett established the track, tracking
northwest through mud and brush along the
creek bank where the suspect was last seen;
eventually leading to an industrial area with a
paved parking lot. K9 Jett continued to track
in a westerly direction on hard paved asphalt
for approximately 75 yards. While tracking in
this direction, perimeter units advised they
observed the second suspect running west
through the parking lot. The lot in which K9
Jett was tracking houses several semi-trailers
and tractors. This industrial area is fenced on 3
sides with the exception of the west side, which
borders an expressway. K9 Jett continued the
track west bound out of the paved industrial
area, and back down towards the creek bank.
Upon K9 Jett’s arrival at this location, perimeter
Officers confirmed that this was where the sus-
pect was last seen. K9 Jett continued the track
west bound underneath the expressway over-
passes leading to a trailer park. K9 Jett then
tracked down the creek bank to a Creek. Based
Region 19
on K9 Jett’s track thus far and his indications
towards the creek, Officer Cook believed the
suspect crossed the creek at this location.
While attempting to determine the best place
to cross creek and to re-establish the track, a
perimeter officer observed the suspect walking
through a the hotel parking lot, 75 yards south
of where K9 Jett had tracked to.
The suspect was ultimately taken into cus-
tody. Upon both suspects being secured, K9
Region 21
Region 21 - Patrol
Officer Dao Meunsaveng & K9 Bero
Des Moines Iowa Police Department
I was dispatched to assist on robbery at 1829
6th Ave Shop N Save. According to the original
responding officer, he observed the suspects
running east bound on foot from the store.
When I arrived in the area, I met with an offi-
cer at the intersection of Oakland Ave/Franklin
Ave. He had located items (boxes of cigarettes)
dropped by the suspects on the southwest cor-
ner of this intersection. I used this as a starting
point for the track and deployed K9 Bero.
I placed Bero on sit position and gave com-
mands to track. As Bero work around the items
and he immediately pickup suspect’s odor. He
placed his nose on the ground and began to
track. He tracked across Oakland Ave and con-
tinued east bound towards Arlington Ave. We
went along the privacy fence of 1819 Oakland
Ave. Once we got to back of that address, Bero
took us behind a small shed along a chain
link fence adjoining the property. In the back
of the shed was a large black plastic garbage
bag containing stolen property from the store.
As we approached the bag I saw a change of
behavior, he lifted his head up along the fence
and looked in an easterly direction. The chain
link fence adjoined the property at 1818 Arling-
Advertise
With US! Phone: 610.316.3942 • Fax: 215.948.3594 • Email: uspcacourier@gmail.com
44 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
Jett and Officer Cook returned to the building
to clear the location for additional suspects. As
a result, while attempting to clear the facility
Officer Cook’s feet were impaled with 3 ½ inch
deck screws, which were placed in 4X8 sheet
of plywood that was covered with leaves. The
building was ultimately cleared and the medical
marijuana operation was found to be in violation
of the medical marijuana statute. This resulted
in the confiscation of several pounds of mari-
ton Ave. Once we could relay
the information of the stolen
properties. I carried Bero
over the chain link fence into
1818 Arlington Ave, where
we were told by home owner
that two unknown males ran
through her driveway. Once
we made through driveway
of 1818 Arlington Ave. We
observed a perimeter officer
had stopped two males at the
intersection of Arlington Ave/Franklin Ave. The
two males had come from our direction. While
at the same time, I saw Bero lift his head up.
At that moment, we saw the perimeter officer
begin fighting with the two males. My backup
officer who was behind me took off towards his
direction, about est.100’ north of our location.
We ran to assist this officer and as we did both
males jumped onto the bed of a red pickup
truck. The truck went east bound on Franklin
Ave towards 2nd Ave. I didn’t release Bero be-
cause my backup officer was in Bero’s path.
Once the two males got into the bed of the
truck, I ran back to my squad car with Bero.
Officers on the scene could obtain the license
plate of the red truck as it drove away. The
truck’s license plate was broadcast and we
learned it was registered to an address on 21st
street in Des Moines. Myself and several units
For Rates & schedule contact: Robert Dougherty Jr.
MICHIGAN • CANADA
juana, and marijuana plants. As a result of the
teamwork by K9 Jett, Officer Cook, and other
Officers, they were able to apprehend the two
suspects that initially burglarized the building,
removed another firearm from the streets, and
charged the suspect for the offense of CCW.
Also, the marijuana provider was charged for
violating the marijuana statute.
IOWA
went to this location where
we contacted mother of the
registered owner of the ve-
hicle in the 2000 block of
Mondamin Ave. We advised
the owner’s mother of the
situation. She tried to call
him via cellphone but was
not successful.
We were unable to locate
the suspects. I returned to
the scene at on Arlington Ave, where we were
told that suspect had lingered around a pick-
up truck in the driveway and this was the last
location where Bero lead us. We located a cell-
phone under the truck. Next to the property at
1818 Arlington Ave, I located a black pistol in
the Egress able widow well on the south side
of the property. Crime scene technicians were
notified and took possession of the properties.
Bero could track to the large plastic bag con-
taining numerous stolen properties from the
store. The bag was hidden behind a shed in
the 1800 block of Oakland Ave. Bero could
track to the last known location where suspect
lingered between two residences on Arlington
Ave and was able to recover a cellphone and
black pistol which are believed to have been
used during the robbery.
Region 25
Region 25 Patrol
Abilene P.D. Texas
Officer Kevin Pyeatt & K9
Shadow
On 4-09-2017, at 2:10 am
hours, The Abilene Police initiated
a traffic stop in a local Restaurant
parking lot. Almost immediately
Patrol Officer Adkins indicated
that there was a subject running
from his traffic stop. K9 Officer
Kevin Pyeatt was close by and
responded to assist with his K9
Shadow. They arrived on scene
within just a few minutes of the
initial stop. Officer Pyeatt de-
ployed his K-9 partner “Shadow”
and began a track the subject that
ran from the stop. Several officers
were also on scene and set up a
perimeter in the area. Information
provided on the scene of the stop
was that the subject was seen
2017 UNITED STATES
POLICE CANINE
ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL FIELD TRIALS
ONE WEEK IN SEPTEMBER 2017
Hosted by the City of Foley Police Department
in conjunction with City of Foley Sports Tourism
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 45
TEXAS
reaching for a firearm prior to exit- on his back, right hand side. This and possession of a controlled
ing his vehicle. allowed officers to see his hands substance that was located in the
and confirm he was not holding a bags that he dropped along the
Officer Pyeatt and K-9 Shadow
weapon. K-9 Shadow was given track.
picked up the track and during the
a verbal release command which
track located several articles that he did follow and K-9 shadow
were later confirmed to belong to returned back to Officer Pyeatt’s
the subject. K-9 Shadow contin- side. Other officers who were
ued his track of the subject track- on scene came to assist
ing over pavement, gravel, grass, and were able to make
across railroad tracks and even apprehension of
jumped over a small chain linked the subject with-
fence approximately a foot in a out further in-
half tall. Shadow jumped over the cident. The
fence and continued on his track subject was
identified
until he located the subject con-
and found
cealed underneath a pickup truck.
to have a
Because of prior information indi-
parole war-
cating that the subject was possi- rant. In ad-
bly armed with a gun and after the dition to the
subject failed to comply with com- warrant the
mands, K-9 Shadow was released subject was
to make apprehension of this sub- arrested for
ject. K-9 Shadow bit the subject evading arrest
The Foley Police Department has been selected to host
the 2017 USPCA National Police Dog Trials.
This is an event that will bring K9s and their handlers
from all over the country to the Foley community. This
week-long event is projected to begin in September
2017 and will take place in the newly constructed Sports
Tourism Complex behind Tanger Mall.
At the conclusion of the week there will be a FREE demon-
stration to the public featuring the K9s abilities, including
a lights and sirens police vehicle procession.
The Foley Police Deparatment K9 Unit is currently seeking
donations to make this a successful event, as well as
sponsorships from local businesses for support.
For info: Cpl. Carlos Lizarraga • 251-943-4431 • clizarraga@foleypolice.org
 Immunotherapy Trial Update
AAV8-anti-VEGF gene Vascular Endothelial Growth
Factor (VEGF) is a molecule
therapy for stage II splenic
that stimulates new blood vessel
hemangiosarcoma growth, supplying oxygen and
nutrients to growing or repair-
ing tissues. It is also frequently
produced by cancers that require
oxygen and nutrients to establish
and grow. Dogs with HSA often
have increased amounts of VEGF Comparative Oncology
in their blood which may contrib-
ute to the development of met-
Feature
astatic disease. We hypothesize Humans develop a very similar
that inhibiting VEGF may pre- type of cancer to HSA in dogs, It
vent new blood vessel growth to is called angiosarcoma. It is high-
tumor cells, starving them of ox- ly aggressive and frequently fatal.
ygen and nutrients, thus delaying Median survival times are approx-
Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a or preventing metastatic disease. imately 7 months. It is genetically
common and highly aggressive similar to HSA although fortu-
In our on-going randomized,
cancer. It arises from the lining placebo controlled clinical trial nately much less common, repre-
of blood vessels and occurs most we are evaluating a viral vector senting only 2-3% of all adult soft
frequently in the spleen of large (AAV8) that encodes an anti-ca- tissue sarcomas.  A similar type
breed dogs. The cancer spreads nine VEGF antibody. When this of therapy that uses antibodies to
to the lungs early in the course of vector is administered to patients, block the effects of VEGF is cur-
disease and is almost uniformly it instructs the liver to make an- renlty being evaluated in human
fatal. Most dogs with HSA pres- tibodies that prevent VEGF from patients with angiosarcoma.
ent for acute onset lethargy or working. Our preliminary data in
collapse, which occurs when the a small number of dogs is show-
primary splenic mass ruptures ing that this treatment appears to
and bleeds. Standard of care con- be safe. Although it is too early to
sists of surgical removal of the draw any conclusions, several dogs
spleen followed by chemotherapy. on this clinical trial are doing very
Despite treatment, most dogs will well, with no evidence of meta-
succumb to metastatic disease static disease at 8 and 9 months
within 6 months of diagnosis. following initial diagnosis.

46 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 47
 Reprinted from Police Chief Magazine, Vol 84, No 6, pp. 14-15 2017. Copyright held by the IACP, Inc., 44 Canal Center Plaza, Ste 200, Alexandria VA 22314.
Further reproduction without express permission from IACP is strictly prohibited.

48 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017

 Trainer’s Corner
Leadership, Obedience, and Working Dog Teams

I
have read many articles about have learned to get their own
leadership and obedience and way without an overt fight.
their relationship to dog training. A working dog handler has to
They all mention the same ideas take the leadership position in the
about dog packs, dominance pack. If they do not, a dominant
and submission, etc. Until the dog will push to be the leader,
last few years, I didn’t fully un- and sometimes even a submis-
derstand how the important the sive dog will feel he has to take
leadership of the handler was to the leadership position because
the performance of working dog the handler does not. Often the
teams. A recent training session submissive dog doesn’t want to
with some narcotics detection be leader, but dogs quickly sense
teams helped me to understand a leadership vacuum and try to
more about how the handler’s fill it. Alarm barking is an example
taking or not taking a leadership By Deborah Palman,
Maine Warden Service, ret. of a dog that lacks confidence
position affects the dog’s perfor- taking a leadership position. In
mance. Being a proper leader
allows a handler to get the most pack to “good things” like food, alarm barking, the dog notices
shelter, security, etc. something and barks to alert the
out of a working dog and makes handler or other dogs because
working, training, and living with In a human-dog pack, or K-9 the dog doesn’t feel confident
the dog easier and more produc- team, the dog seeks to establish enough to handle the situation
tive. I hope that my explanation ranking. Some submissive and/ himself. The dog is being a lead-
of the subject can help handlers or “naturally obedient” dogs will er by alerting the rest of the pack
to understand why leadership automatically submit to the han- that a possible threat exists.
and some sort of obedience dler and be attentive to the han-
training are essential to any type dler’s moods and actions. These Why Obedience Training?
of working dog team. dogs require a fair and careful Traditional obedience training
leader who does not damage teaches the dog simple behav-
What is Leadership in a Dog
Team? the dog’s motivation by confus- iors like sit, down, stay in one
place, come, and heel. Teaching
Dogs are “hard wired” or ge- ing or correcting the dog unfairly. these behaviors allows the han-
netically programmed to exist in Other working dogs, especially dler to communicate to the dog
a pack. They are social animals those bred to do apprehension how the dog should behave.
that live in groups and estab- or protection work, tend towards Teaching behaviors that can be
lish a hierarchy within the pack. the dominant side. Dominance easily assessed for correctness
There are dominant dogs that does not always mean “handler of performance teaches the dog
strive to be higher in the pack aggression” or a direct, aggres- that if he complies with the com-
and submissive dogs that are sive expression of fighting with mands, he will get a reward, and
happy where they end up. There the handler; it also means that if he does not comply, there will
are pack leaders that all the dogs the dog manipulates the hander. be consequences. Consequenc-
respect because they act in a Some of the “nicest” or “sweet- es are usually that a reward is
calm and confident manner, help est” dogs are dominant, “world- withheld, a reward is removed,
to establish order, and lead the class” people manipulators who or discomfort is applied to the
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 49
Trainer’s Corner
dog. The commands and the
methods used to teach basic
commands also create a line
of communication between the
dog and handler.
Unlike people, a dog cannot
act different than it feels. So,
if the dog complies with com-
mands willingly and without ex-
tra help from the handler, the
dog becomes submissive to the
handler in that context. In other
words, if the dog complies with
the command exactly as he has
been taught, the handler is the
leader at that point. If the han-
dler keeps enforcing these basic
commands in training, at work,
at home and in many contexts,
the dog will become submissive
to the handler because the dog
will be “internally” programmed
to be submissive by complying
with the commands. The real
power of this leadership rela-
tionship is that the dog will be
submissive to the handler when
the handler cannot readily see
or measure the results, such as
in scent work. Thus, the track-
ing dog who is submissive to his
handler will “get back to work”
when the handler tells him to,
and, over time and with training,
learn to continuously follow the
track and ignore distractions
because the dog will under-
stand this is what the handler
wants. The narcotics detector
dog will not be distracted by an-
imal scents when working be-
cause he has been trained that
his handler is the leader and his
leader doesn’t want him to sniff
animals when he is looking for
narcotics.
50 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
For patrol dogs, if they are pro-
grammed to follow the handler
commands before they start ap-
prehension training, apprehen-
sion “control work” becomes
another obedience context with
the bite equipment and decoy
as the reward. Teams have
problems with apprehension
work when handlers think they
are the leader but they are not.
The handler is the leader when
the dog complies nearly 100%
with all commands in all con-
texts. Being the leader does not
mean that the dog does good
obedience on the training field
but doesn’t listen around the
house, or jumps out of the car
without a command when told
to stay there. To really get and
keep control in apprehension
work, the dog must be 100%
compliant in other contexts, or
the handler’s leadership is in-
complete or eroding.
Not being a leader to a dom-
inant dog undergoing appre-
hension training is doubly un-
fair to the dog. If the handler
is not the clear leader, the dog
tries to take leadership and this
leads to control problems. The
dog feels he must be the lead-
er and takes over the fight with
the decoy. Then handlers and
trainers resort to more force
and pain to try to gain control.
This leads to the dog becoming
hectic, stressed out and more
confused, because he is only
exercising his genetic predis-
position to fill a leadership vac-
uum and is being punished for
it. Soon the dog doesn’t know
if he should bite or not bite, and
may become frustrated with
the handler for interfering in the
process. Apprehension work,
more than any other type of dog
work has to be a team exercise
with the handler taking the lead
by allowing and supporting the
dog’s fight with the decoy.
Establishing Communication
and Leadership
Puppies and untrained dogs
have to be managed carefully
because handlers don’t have a
way to communicate with them.
Training, informal and formal,
establishes communication and
leadership. The foundations of
human-dog communication for
training purposes are two sig-
nals, usually verbal. One signal
tells the dog “what you JUST
DID IS what I want” and one
signal tells the dog “what you
just did is NOT what I want.”
Like the “red light – green light”
game kids play, these basic
signals should guide the dog
through training.
Dogs communicate non-ver-
bally. They are genetically pro-
grammed to follow non-verbal
signals before they notice verbal
signals. The verbal “Yes!” and
“No” signals need to be taught,
and they need to be used con-
sistently. The handler has to
train himself to use these signals
exclusively and be aware of how
non-verbal signals (hand in the
pocket to retrieve a ball, toys
appearing, food treats being
produced, etc.) affect training
communication. Other non-ver-
bal signals include facial expres-
sions, body carriage, muscles
 Trainer’s Corner

stiffness, immobility, etc. Handlers need to

be aware of what they are doing. This is why
trainers who observe training are important to
the team’s learning process.
Yes!” is established by pairing a reward
with the signal. “No” can be taught by either
making the reward or opportunity go away
after “No,” or by pairing the “No” with phys-
ical punishment. Making the reward go away
or negative reinforcement is the best way to
teach “No” and enforce commands because
it doesn’t involve physical pain or struggle.
The handler has to convince the dog he is the
one from whom all good things come, and
that he controls all the good things and can
take them away at any time if the dog does
not comply.
Doggie “Good Things”
Handlers have control of many things they
don’t realize are valuable to dogs. If the dog
is on lead, the handler controls where the dog
goes and whether the dog has access to or
gets closer or farther away from things the
dog values. Doors and gates control access
to good things. Doggie good things include
obvious things like meals, treats, toys, appre-
hensions and play with the handler. Doggie
good things also include less obvious things
like a bush to urinate on, access to the out-
doors, access to the indoors or a new place
to explore, access to place to sleep, access
to where meals are served, access to a car,
access to another dog playmate, petting, the
opportunity to train, etc. If handlers spend
time watching their dogs, they will see what
the dog values and wants. All these activities
can then become a reward for compliance
with an obedience command.
This is why basic obedience trainers stress
that dogs need to learn to sit at the door to be
let outside, wait in a crate or car before being
allowed to get out, etc. It is not just to avoid
accidents when the dog rushes by, but to im-
press on the dog that the handler is the leader.
Each time the dog pushes by, or barks, push-

March | April | May 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 51

Trainer’s Corner
es and rages at a door to be let
out, the dog is taking the lead-
ership position and, if the han-
dler lets the dog out, the han-
dler is being submissive to the
dog. Asking for a simple sit or
stay teaches the dog the com-
mand with a ready reward that
can be produced (the dog is let
out) or denied (the door remains
shut or is closed before the dog
can get out) according to the
dog’s actions. Getting the dog’s
compliance at the gate or door
reinforces the handler’s leader-
ship in that context. Reinforcing
the handler’s leadership in many
contexts eventually causes the
dog to accept the handler’s
leadership in all contexts.
All dogs push their handlers
for good things. They stare
52 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
at the dog food bowl on the
counter. They nudge their han-
dlers when they want petting.
They drop the ball on the floor
or in the handler’s lap when they
want to play. If the handler al-
ways responds to these actions
automatically without aware-
ness of what the dog is doing,
they are allowing the dog to be
a leader. All they need to do to
turn the situation into a leader-
ship-enforcing situation is to ask
the dog to do something for the
meal, petting, or play. It can be
as simple and quick as a sit, or a
whole obedience routine. If the
dog does not comply, the dog
doesn’t get what he wants. If
the dog solicits again, the han-
dler asks for a sit again. Eventu-
ally the dog will sit to get what
he wants when he realizes he
won’t get it without complying.
Handlers have to be aware of
how the dog manipulates them
and out-manipulate the dog.
What is Compliance?
In training, the dog gets a re-
ward for compliance with the
handler’s commands. Exactly
what is “compliance” depends
on the dog’s level of training.
A beginning dog would get a
reward for just sitting on com-
mand. An intermediate dog
would have to show a faster sit
and sit properly. An advanced
dog might do a number of fast,
correct sits to get a reward, and
or sit fast and properly in the
presence of strong distractions.
What the handler expects of the
dog depends on the context.

One rule of leadership is that
the handler has to have some
criteria or expectation that is
consistent with the dog’s lev-
el of training and stick to those
criteria. If the handler knows the
dog knows the command and
rewards a lesser level of perfor-
mance when the dog isn’t real-
ly trying, then the dog starts to
take over leadership. Dominant
dogs will test their handlers. You
can almost see them thinking
“I won’t sit today and I will see
what he does about it.” If no
consequences result, the dog
will think, “I don’t always have to
sit,” and handler leadership will
erode. The handler must always
have criteria and must always
resort to some sort of conse-
quence if the dog does not
comply. At the very least, the
handler needs to give the “No”
signal to put the dog on notice
that the handler is aware of the
refusal, even if the handler can’t
address the situation right then.
Being submissive to the han-
dler also means that the dog
has to be attentive to the han-
dler. The dog has to pay atten-
tion. Paying attention has to be
taught and enforced. If the dog
is not paying attention, he is not
trying hard enough to comply.
Handlers should withhold re-
wards when their dogs don’t try
hard enough to comply even if
the dog executes the command
half-heartedly.
Compliance with a command also means that the dog does
the command without help from the handler.
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 53
Smart, dominant, and moti-
vated dogs will also try to beat
the handler at their own game.
They will “anticipate com-
mands” and do them before the
handler gives the command.
Or they will do them with their
own special variations. During
the learning of a command, it is
normal and even desirable for a
dog to anticipate a command,
because it is an indication of
learning and thus should not be
punished. However, once the
dog “knows” he is supposed to
wait for commands and still ex-
ecutes behaviors before com-
mands are given, the handler
has to take action and withhold
rewards or give a physical pun-
ishment for anticipation. I often
see dominant dogs doing be-
haviors before the command
and the handler accepts the
behavior because it was what
the handler thought he wanted
anyway. However, this has to be
stopped because the handler is
not being the leader if the dog is
anticipating. The same situation
exists when dogs bark (without
a command to bark) at their
handlers to get the handler to
give a reward, give a command,
or allow access to something
that is under the handler’s con-
trol.
Physical Punishment and
Manipulation
Compliance with a command
also means that the dog does
the command without help from
Trainer’s Corner
the handler. This means that the
dog does the behavior correctly
after the first command. Not af-
ter a repeat command, not with
extra handler body language,
not with any more movement
from the handler. Luring with
a toy or treat is help. Physical
manipulation (pushing or pulling
the dog into position) or physi-
cal corrections are also “help.”
When the dog is being physi-
cally manipulated, it is not com-
plying; it is being placed in the
position by the handler.
For example, a dog is in a sit
position and the handler com-
mands the dog to down. The
dog stays in the sit, looking at
the handler. The handler gives
the “no” signal and goes to the
dog, pulling the dog’s collar until
the dog is down. The dog has
not complied with the com-
mand. To complete the training,
the whole exercise needs to be
repeated again from the start
until the dog goes into the down
promptly on command with-
out any physical pulling or ma-
nipulation. Too many handlers
think that the dog has complied
if they correct or threaten their
dog into position after the com-
mand and go on with the exer-
cise. The dog has not complied,
and chances are he will refuse
again in the future.
I prefer teaching dogs with
rewards and the withholding or
withdrawing of the reward as
Trainer’s Corner
a consequence rather than
physical punishment. Using
rewards produces a dog that
wants to work and actively
problem solves rather than a
dog that has to work and can
be confused and fearful. How-
ever, there are times when
physical corrections and/or
manipulation need to be used
on reward-trained dogs. Train-
ing by withholding rewards re-
quires patience and strategy.
Handlers tend to be impa-
tient, however. They want the
dog to comply and learn the
commands on their schedule
rather than on the dog’s. Han-
dlers should never underesti-
mate the power of saying “no,”
doing nothing and staying still
and silent when the dog does
not comply. Handlers tend
to want to act on the
dog when the dog
isn’t com-
plying,
54 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
and all the while they are acting
on the dog, through coaching,
urging or pushing, pulling or
correcting, the dog is thinking,
“This might be a little uncom-
fortable, but look what I got my
handler to do.” Often times, if
the handler just waits and does
nothing, the dog will realize that
the handler will out wait the dog
and the dog will have to change
instead of the handler.
Dog Management
Dogs “out waiting” handlers
brings up the subject of time.
Handlers only have so many
hours they can train their dogs,
only so much time to feed and
care for them. Dogs spend
24 hours, 7 days
a week
observing their handlers and
trying to figure out how to get
the good stuff. This puts han-
dlers at a severe disadvantage
if they are not aware of what is
going on.
Handlers need to manage
their dogs to prevent the dog
from getting too much good
stuff on their own and/or
getting into trouble be-
cause the handler
cannot be there
to be the lead-
er. This is
w h y

dogs that are ken-
neled outside the house
often perform better as work-
ing dogs. When they are in a se-
cure kennel, they are not busy trying
to gain leadership and the handler
doesn’t have to constantly spend his
time guarding against the dog erod-
ing the handler’s leadership. Kennel
dogs also don’t have unlimited ac-
cess to good stuff so they value the
good stuff the handler has even more.
Handlers who are successful while
still keeping their dogs in a house
know how to establish and keep their
leadership position and have control
of their dog’s access to good stuff.
Once a handler becomes a true lead-
er for the dog, the handler doesn’t have
to insist on trading behaviors for every
thing the dog wants. The dog will auto-
matically start asking for permission as
he has been trained, and every day life
will become easier and more reinforcing
for the dog and handler.
Relationship, Relationship, Rela-
tionship
A common analogy used to de-
scribe dog-human relationships is
the analogy of a bank account. Han-
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 55
Trainer’s Corner
dlers need to put more mon-
ey or rewards into the account
than they take out, and the
more money they put in, the
more interest it earns in the fu-
ture. If dog training were that
simple, more people would be
successful and we probably
wouldn’t need dog trainers.
I have come to see leader-
ship as the missing factor in the
dog-human relationship account
description. Handlers have to pro-
vide rewards and motivation for work,
but handlers also have to provide
leadership to be successful. Every
dog is different, and every handler
has to train and work their dog dif-
ferently to get the best results. This is
where true teamwork and leadership
show their worth.
For example, I see some detector
dogs that are high drive, willing work-
ers but reactive, a little nervous, and
easily distracted by noises, people,
and movement as they work. Left to
work by themselves without direction,
either off lead or ahead of the handler
on lead, they will stop working and
focus on the distractions. Any time
56 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
 Trainer’s Corner

the dog is ahead phys- handler as leader and to success and perfor- dler. Leadership by the
ically of the handler, the teach the dog that sniff- mance of a working dog handler is a critical part
dog usually thinks he is ing dog scents while team. I am convinced of the team relationship
in the leadership posi- working is not permis- this is an absolute truth. and must be estab-
tion. A reactive dog at sible. Weaker dogs are made lished before any effec-
the end of a lead ahead I have heard it repeat- strong by an encourag- tive work can be done.
of the handler thinks he ed again and again that ing and confident han- The better the handler
has to be the leader and the relationship be- dler. Willful dogs are leads and trains, the
give attention to possi- tween a dog and his made compliant by a better the working dog
ble threats. Take the handler is crucial to the fair and consistent han- team will be.
same reactive dog and
have the handler make
a point of ignoring the
distractions and leading
the search by giving the
dog constant direction
by staying ahead of or
even with the dog and
pointing out where to
search, and the dog is
relieved of his perceived
leadership “responsi-
bility” to notice the dis-
tractions. The handler’s
leadership makes the
dog work in spite of
the distractions. Over
time, the dog will learn
that distractions are the
handler’s responsibility,
not his.
Another example is
a detector dog that is
attracted to other dog
scents when he works.
This is a matter of the
dog taking the leader-
ship position and decid-
ing that he will not work
on command but do his
own thing and sniff dog
scents instead of work.
This dog needs a com-
prehensive training pro-
gram to establish the

June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 57

58 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 59
60 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
 Advertiser Index
Aberdeen Barn............................................................13
ACE K-9........................................................................2
Ace Watchdog.............................................................60
Appomatox Title........................................................13
Avis Electric Co., Inc.................................................17
Battle Ridge K9 Services............................................14
Bite Guard Kennel Plex.............................................61
Bliley’s Funeral Services............................................18
Capps Shoe Co............................................................16
CritterTown BathHouse............................................19
Direct Animal Products............................................57
Dog Sport Gear...........................................................62
Dowdy’s Well & Septic...............................................17
Elite K-9.......................................................................62
Elliotts..........................................................................20
Elte K-9..........................................................................4
Guirkin Plumbing & Heating...................................20
Hillview Kennels........................................................17
HITS K9...........................................................................
June | July | August 2017 www.uspcak9.com | 61
Jones Trailer Co..........................................................15
K-9 BSD................................................................ 32, 33
K-9 Cop Magazine.............................................. 58, 59
Morrissett Funeral Services......................................19
Neff Lumber Mills......................................................17
Pack Track App...........................................................30
Police K-9............................................................. 28, 29
Police Service Dogs....................................Back Cover
Richmond Machinery...............................................19
Service Dog Training Testing..................................C2
Shallow Creek K9.......................................................63
Stratford Hall..............................................................20
Superfit Canine...........................................................25
Thurman Insurance...................................................42
True Canine International..........................................8
USPCA Gear.................................................................7
Vom Galied Haus.......................................................63
White’s Narcotic & Detector Dogs...........................14
Working Dog Magazine............................................65
62 | Canine Courier June | July | August 2017
 2017 USPCA
Calendar of Events
What: Where:
2017 National Patrol Dog PDI Foley Police Department, Foley, AL
Field Contact:
Trials and Certification Cpl Carlos Lizarraga at 251-943-4431
When: clizarraga@foleypolice.org
Sept. 24, 2017 @ 9:00 am – Sept. 29, Cost:
2017 @ 5:00 pm $150.00
Check our website for current and/or updated info
on events: www.uspcak9.com

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END
WATCH
K9 Kyro
Houston County
Sheriff’s Office, Georgia
End of Watch:
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
K9 Kyro was shot after he
mistook his handler for a
suspect while performing
a track in a heavily wooded
area while assisting the Dooly
County Sheriff’s Office.
Kyro bit his handler’s calf
and failed to release, causing
severe damage to his han-
dler’s leg. His handler was
forced to shoot Kyro in order
to prevent further injury.
K9 Kyro had served with the
Houston County Sheriff’s Of-
fice for three years.
K9 Diesel
Sebastian Police Depart-
ment, Florida
End of Watch:
Friday, April 28, 2017
K9 Diesel died after being
accidentally left in his han-
dler’s patrol car at the Brevard loosa County.
County Courthouse in Mel-
64 | Canine
bourne, Florida. Courier June | July | August 2017
of
K9 Doki
Jasper County Sheriff’s Office,
South Carolina
End of Watch:
Thursday, April 20, 2017
K9 Doki died of heat ex-
haustion after a mechanical
malfunction in his handler’s
patrol car.
The vehicle’s heat rose to an
unsafe level while Doki was
inside. Once his handler dis-
covered him he was taken to
a veterinary hospital where
he died.
K9 Freckles
Florida Department of
Corrections, Florida
End of Watch:
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
K9 Roscoe had served with
K9 Freckles died after suf-
Crowley Police Department
fering heat exhaustion while
for only six months.
tracking a wanted fugitive as
part of a multi-day manhunt
in the Laurel Hill area of Oka-
K9 Roscoe
Crowley Police Department,
Louisiana
End of Watch:
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
K9 Roscoe was shot and
killed after officers responded
to a shooting call in the 400
block of Josey Street.
The original call involved re-
ports of a male subject shoot-
ing his former girlfriend.
Officers, including Roscoe’s
handler, arrived on scene and
attempted to make entry into
the home to check the wel-
fare of the victim. As Roscoe’s
handler kicked open the door
the subject inside opened
fire, striking him in the leg.
Roscoe was also shot by the
subject and killed.
The man them exited the
home and opened fire on
other officers, who returned
fire and killed him.
The woman the man had
shot died at the scene. Fur-
ther investigation revealed
that the man had murdered
another woman a short time
earlier.
K9 Rooster
Wichita Police Department,
Kansas
End of Watch: Saturday,
March 18, 2017
K9 Rooster was shot and
killed while attempting an
apprehension of a subject
the scene of a domestic dis-
turbance.
Officers had been sent to
the mobile home in the 2300
block of East MacArthur Road
to investigate the incident.
A male subject exited the
home with a firearm and the
went back inside. The subject
opened fire on K9 Rooster
when he was released to at-
tempt an apprehension.
Other officers on scene
returned fire and killed the
subject.
K9 Rooster had served with
the Wichita Police Depart-
ment for five years.
K9 Rico
Alaska State Troopers, Alaska
End of Watch:
Sunday, March 26, 2017
K9 Rico was shot and killed
while attempting an appre-
hension of a suspect follow-
ing a pursuit in Wasilla.
The driver of the vehicle led
troopers on a 45-minute pur-
suit after they attempted to
stop him for traffic violations.
The subject had several out-
standing warrants.
Troopers were able to dis-
able the vehicle with spike
strips near mile 45 on Parks
Highway. K9 Rico was de-
ployed when the man fled
and refused to follow com-
mands. The subject opened
fire on Rico, killing him, be-
fore being shot and killed by
the troopers.
K9 Rico had served with the
Alaska State Troopers for only
six months.
 “The Magazine for Working Dog Professionals.”

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