Page 20 - BRAVO3_ISSUE1_MAY_JUN_2018
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 tracking,buildingsearch,areasearchandal
Itisalsoajobwithinadepartmentwhereyouworkaloton yourown.Youmust,orshould,keepupwithyourinservice training,training records and yearly certifications. No one e ls e c a n o r w il l d o th is fo r y o u . It s til l b lo w s m y m in d th a t Missouridoesnothaveastatestandardforthepoliceservice dogsinthestate.MycertificationsweresomethingIneverlet expire.Iwouldgotoanationalorganizationaswelasour
eorganizationinordertocarytwocertificationsevery year. Not once was I ever questioned passed what organizationIwascertifiedwithandifthecertificationswere c u r re n t. Y o u w o u ld b e a m a z e d to k n o w th e n u m b e r o f uncertifiedteamsworkingthestreetrightnow.Ifaultfirstthe handlers,secondtheK9supervisorandlastthedepartment head.Asidefrom trainingandcertificationsIhadanother
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o f lo y a lty to th e in te g rity o f m y c h o s e n p ro fe s s io n . I strivedtohavenofalsealerts,intrainingoronthestreet.I alsobelievedinchalengingmydog,myself,andusasa team.Beforethetermssingleblindanddoubleblindbecame soprevalent,Iwasusingthem inmynarcoticsdetection,
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rdisciplinesofourwork.ManyoftheotherdeputiesI
. workedwithhadnotworkedwithaK9Deputylikemyself.OneofthebestmemoriesIhaveiswhenIwas
caledtoatraficstoptousemyGermanShepherd,K9Idol,tocheckforthepresenceoftheodorof narcotics/drugs.See,ourdogsarenottrainedtoalerttothepresenceofnarcotics/drugs,theyaretrainedto alerttopresenceoftheodor(s).WhenIarivedImadecontactwiththedeputy,whohadnotusedusona traficstopbefore.Thedeputymetmeandsaid,“Listen,thisisarealgoodstop,makesureyourdogalerts.”
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wilneverforgethowangrythismademe.Istoppedrightthen,wewerewalkingtowardsthesuspect’scar, Igrabbedhim byhisarm andsaid,“Don’tyoueverf* *kingsaythattomeeveragain!Youunderstandme? Mydogwileitheralert,orhewon’t.Thereiseithertheodorthereorthereisnot.Clear?”I’lneverforget thelookonthisdeputy’sface,almostofshockandhesaid,“Ok,ok,okbuddy.” K9Idolalertedandwe locatedalargeamountofcontraband.ThisdeputyandIcontinuedtoworktogetherandhelatertoldmeI wasoneoftwoK9Oficersthatheeverbelievedinourwork.Hesaidifmydogdidn’talerthehadfulfaith therewasnothingthere.
O n th e o p p o s ite e n d o f th e s p e c tru m a re th e K 9 o f fic e rs w h o e x a c e rb a te th e c a p a b ilitie s o f th e m a n d th e ir dog(s).Themostoftenexaggerationofteamscapabilitiesisintheareaoftrackingortrailing(TT).Ihave actualyhadaconversationwithahandlerwhotoldmethattheyhadsuccessfulyrana7montholdtrailwith theirSARdog.Letmesaythatagain,7monthsold!7months,andhewasasserious,asaheartatack. His,“wonderdog,”hadruna2-miletrailandlocatedtheremainsofamissingperson.Iaskedafew,targeted questionsaboutifitwaspossiblethatheandhisdoghappenedupontheremainsbuthewasdeadsettotel
ehowamazinghisdogwas.Overandoveragainhesaidthathestartedandranthetrail,7-month-oldtrail, from possiblepointoflastseentotheremains. InaskindofwordsIcoulduse,Itoldhim thatIthoughthe wasaliar.Iwouldbewilingtoputalargewagerthatthisteam couldnotruna48-hourolddoubleblindtrail withanunknowntraillayerinanunknownareatohim andhisdog.
Ihavealsodiscussedwithnumeroushandlers,trainerswhotoutof theirabilitiestorunagedtracks/trails.Anyonewhoknowsmeorhas trainedwithmeknowsthatIam extremelyconservativewhenit comestomybeliefsofagedtracks/trails.I’m tryingtostayontopic hereaboutusbeingtruthfulinourtrainingbutIhavetoexpandon thistopicbeforemovingon.
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