ISSUE 47 DEC/JAN 2018
$9.95
8TH Annual International
2018 2017
K9COP CONFERENCE & VENDOR SHOW
Nashville Sept. 18, 19, 20 - 2018 Tennessee
Training: Tactical K-9 Training and Beyond Part 2
INSIDE:
Featured Unit: Durham Regional Police Service Scent Detection: Common Scent Detection Problems and How to Overcome Them
DURHAM REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE K-9 UNIT
Pictured L to R: Jeff Burns, Bryan Armstrong, Wes King, Jason Dickson, Kevin Dunlop, Wayne King, Corby Wright, Jim Stephenson (ret), not pictured: Adam Handscomb
THE K-9 UNIT: The DRPS K-9 Unit was formed in 1992 by Constable Peter Vanderuim, who is now retired. The need for a K-9 team was evident, due to the large area and diverse landscape that DRPS covers. After completing a 16-week Police K-9 training course with the Toronto Police Service, PC Vanderuim and Police Service Dog Leo were certified and became the first K-9 team for DRPS. Over the years since then, the unit has grown to eight handlers and 10 dogs; each K-9 with their 6 0 • K- 9 C O P M A G A Z I N E
own specific purpose. Eight of the patrol dogs are general purpose; trained to track, search and locate human scent as well as being proficient in evidence searches, interior/exterior searches, agility and apprehensions. Two of those eight dogs are cross-trained with skills of explosives detection and cadaver detection. The unit’s other two dogs are single purpose dogs, specifically trained in narcotics and firearm detection. Located in Canada and experiencing all four seasons, DRPS’ K-9 teams must be able to adapt
and be ready to deploy in any situation on land, air and sea in any environment. They train and are proficient in every weather scenario from hot and humid summers with temperatures up to 40º C (104° F) to freezing cold winters with high winds, deep snow and subzero temperatures down to -40º C (-40° F). Due to the vast range of working conditions and the K-9s’ extreme motivation to work, DRPS handlers must take extra precautions and necessary measures to ensure the safety of their four-legged partners.
VISION – To have the safest community for people to live, work & play.
MISSION – As leaders in community safety, we work proudly with all members of our community while holding ourselves accountable to improve effectiveness in everything we do. We proactively address future challenges while upholding our values.
The DRPS K-9 Unit also takes great pride in working together and giving back to their community. In 2014, the unit launched their first yearly calendar featuring their Police Service Dogs. All proceeds went to two local charities. The calendar sales have been such a success that they’ve created and sold the calendars every year since then. Last year, the K-9 Unit raised over $37,000 selling their
DURHAM REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE, often referred to as DRPS, is operated by and serves the Regional Municipality of Durham in Ontario, Canada
1974 year established 871 uniformed officers 300+ civilian workers
8 municipalities served 645,000 residents 2,523 km² area covered
Territory includes dense residential and industrial areas to remote wilderness, including large bodies of water such as Lake Ontario.
2017 calendars. The proceeds were split and donated to three local charities: Alzheimer’s Society Durham, the Animal Guardian Society (TAGS) and Autism Ontario Durham Region. The K-9 Unit has 2018 calendars available for sale on their website, www.drps.ca. This year’s proceeds will be donated to Alzheimer’s Society Durham, TAGS and new for 2018, Epilepsy Durham Region.
TRAINING: Training is a vital part of every K-9 Unit and it is no different for the DRPS K-9 Unit. Maintaining a vigorous training schedule throughout the year ensures that both the handlers and the dogs are up to date with current tactics and ready to deploy whenever needed. The unit plans monthly training sessions covering deployments by helicopter and boat, high-risk tracking, tactical searches and scenario based training. Additional training days are also scheduled regularly for the K-9s to attend the range with the tactical members and for the detector dogs to work on new search techniques and concealment methods. All teams recertify yearly in all disciplines as outlined in the Provincial guidelines in addition to recertifying monthly in certain skills to ensure top performance. DEPLOYMENTS: While Durham is usually peaceful, it is not immune to emergencies and critical situations. The DRPS K-9 Unit structures its training to be prepared for any unexpected scenario. In past years, the unit has been deployed for barricaded suspects, vehicle pursuits, robberies, hostage situations and more. DRPS divides their calls into K-9 calls and non-K-9 calls. When not involved in K-9 training or deployments, the handlers assist the agency’s front-line officers by attending all police calls as back-up or as first response to situations that may require further investigation. The handlers generally don't get involved in any calls beyond a first response if it will take the K-9s’ availability away from other high priority situations, but they still must be available 24/7 to assist other DRPS members. From January 2016 to December 2017, DRPS had 1,850 K-9 calls and 2,007 non-K-9 calls. The dogs were deployed 405 times, located evidence 75 times, located a body (accused or missing person) 70 times and apprehended wanted or fleeing suspects 11 times. DRPS has stated that those numbers are slightly lower than the yearly average. Generally, the K-9 units respond to 4-4,500 calls per year; however with dogs retiring and new K-9s being trained over the past year, these numbers reflect a 25% reduction while handlers have been taken off shift for three months at a time. 61
K-9 HEMMI
K-9 BLITZ
Country of origin: Slovakia Age: 9 years old Duty: General purpose & explosives/firearm detection
K-9 BROCK Country of origin: USA - Kentucky Age: 6 years old Duty: General purpose
Country of origin: Netherlands Age: 10 years old Duty: General purpose
PSD Blitz & Detective Constable Wes King FUN FACT: Blitz enjoys spinning in his patrol kennel, leaving it polished and shiny.
PSD Blitz is DC King’s first partner and they’ve worked together for nine years. In the summer of 2015, Blitz and King were dispatched to assist officers in locating a violent male with multiple outstanding warrants. Prior to arrival on scene, the suspect evaded arrest by uniformed officers on his bicycle. Blitz tracked the suspect to a residence and after the team maneuvered a 6-foot fence, the suspect saw Blitz and fled. Blitz was able to apprehend the suspect but lost his grip when the suspect slammed him into a parked vehicle. Blitz was re-deployed and located the suspect hiding in a shed. After giving instructions to surrender, the suspect crashed out the door and Blitz apprehended him again. It was later discovered that the suspect poured paint on himself in attempt to mask his scent.
PSD Hemmi & Detective Constable Corby Wright
PSD Hemmi and DC Wright have been partners since June 2009. In the summer of 2013, they were dispatched to an armed robbery in which three masked men had robbed and assaulted employees of a store. Police were advised that the suspects fled on foot with thousands of dollars of cigarettes. Hemmi tracked and located the suspects at a residence approximately half a kilometer away, where they were hiding inside. The suspects then surrendered to uniformed officers and the stolen cigarettes as well as the knives used during the robbery were located inside the residence. FUN FACT: While tracking on hard surfaces, Hemmi relies mostly on his sense of smell but he has also been observed licking the surface he is tracking, in effort to obtain the best scent available.
PSD Brock & Detective Constable Jason Dickson
PSD Brock is DC Dickson’s first K-9 partner, working with him since 2012. One November, Brock and Dickson were dispatched to locate a female who had threatened to harm herself. Once arriving on scene, Brock locked onto her scent and lead officers to the shores of Lake Ontario. Officers found the girl’s backpack with several medications and a hand-written suicide note. Brock then led officers directly into Lake Ontario where the female was chest-high in the frigid waters. After being unable to coax the female out of the water, another officer entered the water and pulled her to safety. This call would have been fatal if not for the successful track of Brock.
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K-9 VEGAS K-9 RIOT Country of origin: USA - Kentucky Age: 4 years old Duty: General purpose/ cadaver recovery
PSD Riot & Detective Constable Jeffrey Burns FUN FACT: Riot’s favorite toy is a super launcher and orange Chuck-It ball.
Country of origin: Czech Republic Age: 9 years old Duty: General purpose
K-9 STORM Country of origin: Hungary Age: 3 years old Duty: General purpose
PSD Riot was partnered with DC Burns in October 2014 after Burns’ first K-9 partner, Reese, passed away due to a medical condition. In the spring of 2016, Riot was dispatched to assist in tracking a male subject who had caused a high-speed, head-on collision. Many witnesses stated that the male had staggered from his vehicle into a dense forest, dropping empty beer cans as he fled. Tracking conditions were difficult because of water, snow, mud, fences and the dense forest. Riot succeeded in tracking the suspect, finding him approximately 5 kilometers away. Once located, the suspect surrendered without incident. The victim of the crash was treated at the local hospital with only minor injuries.
PSD Vegas & Detective Constable Bryan Armstrong
PSD Vegas is DC Armstrong’s second K-9 partner. They’ve worked together since September 2009. On Christmas Eve of 2011, the team observed a stolen car travelling eastbound on Highway 401. While waiting for backup and following the car, the suspect pulled off the highway then re-entered in the westbound direction. After 15 minutes, Ontario Provincial Police officers caught up and tried to stop the vehicle. The suspect attempted to escape, crashing his vehicle into the median in the process. As the team approached, the suspect fled on foot and continued to run after repeated warnings to stop or the dog would be deployed. Vegas was deployed down the blocked-off highway, where he apprehended the suspect, who was taken into custody and spent his Christmas nursing stitches from Vegas.
PSD Storm & Detective Constable Kevin Dunlop
PSD Storm is DC Dunlop’s second K-9 partner after his first, PSD Magnum, retired. Storm and Dunlop have worked together since January 2016. In the fall of 2016, Storm and Dunlop were dispatched to assist the Tactical Support Unit locate armed robbery suspects who had fled on foot into a dense cornfield. Under dangerous conditions, Storm was deployed to track, locate and apprehend the suspects. After an hour of tracking, Storm was able to locate the loaded firearm used in the robbery. Eventually, he led officers into a dense wooded area and located the suspects trying to conceal themselves in brush. Storm’s assistance allowed the officers to locate the suspects without injury or fatality. FACT: Storm will soon be reassigned within the K-9 unit to a role with less physical demands due to back issues. DC Dunlop is currently training a new Dutch Shepherd recruit to take Storm’s place in the near future.
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Detector Dog Axel & Detective Constable Bryan Armstrong K-9 AXEL Country of origin: Canada Age: 5 years old Duty: Narcotics/ Firearm Detection
K-9 JETT Country of origin: Holland Age: 2 years old Duty: Narcotics/ Firearm Detection
K-9 FLEX Country of origin: Slovakia Age: 2 years old Duty: General purpose
K-9 ROGUE Country of origin: Hungary Age: 2 years old Duty: General purpose
DD Axel was a rescue dog the unit adopted when they learned he was set to be euthanized. Axel was trained and put into service in June 2013 and has been a valuable K-9 member ever since.
Detector Dog Jett & Detective Constable Jason Dickson DD Jett is one of the newest members to DRPS K-9 Unit, working with DC Dickson since January 2017. Jett takes advantage of his small size when it comes to accessing enclosed tight spaces. FUN FACT: Jett has a very calm demeanor but an extreme high reward drive.
PSD Flex & Detective Constable Adam Handscomb PSD Flex is DC Handscomb’s first K-9 partner and has been since December 2016. In March 2017, after recently completing his K-9 training, Flex was dispatched to track a robbery suspect in -25° weather. The male suspect had robbed a coffee shop at knife point and fled on foot. Even in the harsh conditions, Flex was able to track the suspect and locate many articles of evidence along the way. Flex located the suspect and officers were able to take him into custody. FUN FACT: Flex is so motivated to work that he has broken three kennels in his patrol vehicle.
PSD Rogue & Detective Constable Wayne King PSD Rogue is the newest member of DRPS K-9 Unit, partnered with DC King in June 2017. Rogue is King’s second K-9 partner, replacing PSD Havoc who retired in the spring of 2017. FUN FACT: Rogue is the K-9 Unit’s second pure black German Shepherd, next to PSD Havoc.
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