Page 17 - F&E Blue Spring 2018

The nose knows

Vapor Wake K-9s Make their MSP Debut

Troopers Bob Callahan and Jim Higgins, work a crowd by sampling the cross-section of
assigned to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) people moving through a crowd. As soon as a
Unit at the State Police Barracks at Logan Airport Vapor Wake dog detects an explosive odor, it will
are now handlers of the job’s first Vapor Wake K-9s. follow the source of the odor: a person, a bag
Vapor Wake working dogs are specifically trained left behind, something carried inside and then
to detect body worn explosives on a moving target. hidden. A Vapor Wake dog will always follow to
Unlike traditional Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) the actual source of the threat.
teams, trained to view static objects or people
as their “productive area”, Vapor Wake dogs are Troopers Callahan and Higgins who
obedient to the odor itself. are certified Bomb Technicians, attended a
challenging and vigorous 7-week training course
offered by AMK9 in Anniston,
AL and became certified EDD
and Vapor Wake handlers.
Their K-9’s, Quiver and Eagle,
are Labrador Retrievers from
Europe, where the world’s
best working dogs have been
bred for decades. Before
bringing the dogs to AMK9,
each is individually assessed
by a veterinarian for health
and temperament. These dogs
have a high drive and are toy
rewarded.

Vapor K-9 teams are
actively deployed throughout
Logan Airport and offer
another layer of security to
airline passengers as well as

Troopers Bob Callahan and Jim Higgins with their K-9 partners employees and vendors.

Scent particles are carried behind a person
in a “thermal plume”, produced by the body’s
natural heat. A person’s natural thermal plume
goes upwards when a person is standing still, but
as soon as they begin moving, the thermal plume
extends behind them, much like the wake behind
a boat in the water, thus the name, “Vapor
Wake”.

Vapor Wake K-9 Detection Teams will

F r en c h·a n d·E le c t r ic·B l ue·S p r in g 2018·p a g e·17