Featured Department: Flint (MI) Police Department

ISSUE 59 DEC/JAN 2020

$9.95

10THAnnual International

2017

K9COP CONFERENCE & VENDOR SHOW

Nashville Sept. 15,16,17 2020 Tennessee

INSIDE:

Featured Unit: Flint (MI) Police Department

Tracking: Using Point to Point Drills for Better Tracking Results

Advice & Opinion: Pre-Deployment Tactics When Responding to K-9 Radio Calls

CITY OF FLINT, MI POLICE DEPARTMENT K-9 UNIT

FEATURED DEPARTMENT: CITY OF FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT K-9 UNIT

About the City of Flint:

Located along the Flint River, Flint lies just 66 miles northwest of Detroit, Michigan. The City of Flint encompasses 34 square miles and has an estimated population of 95,000. Otherwise known as “Vehicle City,” Flint is the birthplace of the General Motors Corporation. There is a vast amount of history encompassed within the City of Flint, mostly dominated by the auto industry and manufacturing. Flint was the home of the Sit-Down strike of 1936-1937, which ultimately led to the formation of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) Union. Flint was a manufacturing powerhouse that included building tanks and military machines during WWII. Around 1960, the population of the City of Flint peaked around 200,000.

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It is no secret that Flint has experienced both prosperity and decline. With the decline of General Motors and the auto industry from the 1980s-1990s, Flint suffered a workforce loss of almost 90% from 1978-2010. The population decreased from its peak of 200,000 to roughly 95,000 and it experienced the well known “water crisis” in 2014. There have been many films and documentaries made about the City of Flint, with the most recent being “Flint Town” which aired on Netflix in 2018. Despite the overwhelming setbacks, Flint has shown remarkable resiliency.

Businesses are returning to invest in Flint, water pipes are being fixed and the downtown area is being revitalized by small business.

About the Flint Police Department K-9 Unit:

AS OF NOVEMBER 2019, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF FOUR CANINE TEAMS SERVING THE CITY OF FLINT: K-9 DRAGO & OFFICER JAMES GUERERRO K-9 CAYENNE & OFFICER JOHN HARWELL K-9 CASINO & OFFICER JUSTIN MCLEOD

K-9 DRAGO

K-9 CAYENNE K-9 SONITROL

K-9 SONITROL & OFFICER VINCENT VILLARREAL

K-9 CASINO

The Flint Police K-9 Unit was established in 1989 when three German Shepherds were donated by citizens to the Department. The unit flourished as a result of cooperation between law enforcement agencies, generosity of citizens and the dedication of the dog handlers themselves. The K-9 unit was later disbanded but brought back in 2014 under Police Chief James Tolbert. The first K-9 to return was named Edo and his partner was Officer John Boismier. Several new dogs were added in the period between 2017-2019 and Edo retired in 2019.

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FEATURED DEPARTMENT: CITY OF FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT K-9 UNIT

THE K-9S PROVIDE A SERVICE THAT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR HUMANS TO REPLICATE AND FOR THAT REASON, THEY ARE EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO THE FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY. Flint Police Department K-9 Unit:

All of the listed K-9s are trained in tracking, narcotics detection and handler protection except for Sonitrol, who is trained in explosive detection. The K-9s assist with locating missing persons, locating and apprehending violent criminals, detecting narcotics/explosive materials, finding lost articles and searching buildings/homes during active burglaries.

The teams train together biweekly. Additionally, they are sent to Alpena, Michigan every October to participate in a weeklong training conference hosted by the National Association of Professional Canine Handlers (N.A.P.C.H.). This conference allows 350+ K-9 teams from all over the United States and Canada to train together and hone their skills collectively. Many K-9 experts and master trainers attend this conference and provide valuable insight and training. All of the Flint Police Department K-9s get re-certified in their areas of duty during this conference.

All of the K-9s live at home with their handlers when they are offduty. It is important to remember that even though they are highly trained for police work, they are still dogs. They still enjoy affection and time with their handlers when they are not at work. The K-9s provide a service that is virtually impossible for humans to replicate and for that reason, they are extremely valuable to the Flint Police Department and the community.

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Fundraising:

The Flint Police Department K-9 unit is a mostly self-funded unit. That means that the Unit operates almost solely on donations from private citizens and businesses. The Flint Police K-9 Unit would not be able to exist without the extreme level of generosity shown to it by all who support it.

The K-9 Unit participates in and hosts multiple yearly fundraisers, including the sale of t-shirts and sweatshirts, an annual K-9 Calendar that

contains professional photos of all the dogs (generously taken by photographer Stephanie LoPiccolo), comedy shows and other public functions that include raffles, games and prizes. The funds generated at these events go towards equipment for the dogs and vehicles, training classes and the eventual purchase of new dogs for the K-9 Unit. At this time, all of the dog food is generously provided for free

by Doogie’s Super Center of Davison, Michigan.

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO:

Flint Police Foundation - K9 Unit ATTN: Sgt. R. Frost 210 E. Fifth St. Flint, MI 48502

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FEATURED DEPARTMENT: CITY OF FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT K-9 UNIT

ABOUT THE DOGS:

Officer James Guerrero has been with the Flint Police Department for 16 years; two of those as a K-9 Handler. Officer Guerrero previously served as a Detroit Police Officer. His partner is Drago, a German Shepherd/Czech Republic mix, born in the United States. Drago will be 4 years old in December and has been in the Flint Police Department K-9 Unit for two years. His commands are spoken in German.

Before entering the police world, Drago was a high-level competitor in the sport of Schutzhund. Drago specializes in narcotics detection, tracking and recovering lost or missing articles.

BEFORE ENTERING THE POLICE WORLD, DRAGO WAS A HIGH-LEVEL COMPETITOR IN THE SPORT OF SCHUTZHUND. DRAGO SPECIALIZES IN NARCOTICS DETECTION, TRACKING AND RECOVERING LOST OR MISSING ARTICLES.

OFFICER JAMES GUERRERO & K-9 DRAGO 4 4 • K- 9 C O P M A G A Z I N E

OFFICER JOHN HARWELL & K-9 CAYENNE Officer John Harwell has been with the Flint Police Department for four years; two of those as a K-9 handler.

Officer Harwell previously served as an Atlanta Police Officer in Atlanta, Georgia. His partner is Cayenne.

Like Drago, Cayenne is made in the USA of Czech Republic and East German heritage. Cayenne will be 4 years old in December and has served the Flint Police Department for two years. His commands are spoken in German. Cayenne was also a high-level competitor in the sport of Schutzhund prior to becoming a Police Officer. Cayenne specializes in narcotics detection, tracking and recovering lost or missing articles.

CAYENNE IS MADE IN THE USA OF CZECH REPUBLIC & EAST GERMAN HERITAGE. HE WILL BE 4 YEARS OLD IN DECEMBER AND HAS SERVED THE FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR TWO YEARS. HIS COMMANDS ARE SPOKEN IN GERMAN. 45

FEATURED DEPARTMENT: CITY OF FLINT POLICE DEPARTMENT K-9 UNIT

OFFICER VINCENT VILLARREAL & K-9 SONITROL Officer Vincent Villarreal has been with the Flint Police Department for 3-1/2 years and joined the K-9 unit in October of 2019. His partner is Sonitrol (named after his corporate sponsor). Sonitrol is a German shepherd from the Czech Republic and is one year and 8 months old. His commands are given in German. Sonitrol is a jumper and an escape artist and holds the ability to get out of almost anything. He specializes in explosive detection, tracking and recovering lost or missing articles.

SONITROL IS A JUMPER AND AN ESCAPE ARTIST. HE SPECIALIZES IN EXPLOSIVE DETECTION, TRACKING AND RECOVERING LOST OR MISSING ARTICLES. 4 6 • K- 9 C O P M A G A Z I N E

CASINO IS A 16-MONTH-OLD BELGIAN MALINOIS. HE IS FROM SLOVAKIA AND IS GIVEN COMMANDS IN GERMAN AND ENGLISH.

OFFICER JUSTIN MCLEOD & K-9 CASINO Officer Justin McLeod has been with the Flint Police Department for 3-1/2 years and joined the K-9 unit in October of 2019. His partner is Casino, a 16-month-old Belgian Malinois.

Casino is from Slovakia and is given commands in German and English. One quirky fact about Casino is that he never eats standing up; he lays down to eat, then gets up to drink water.

After drinking, he lays back down to eat again.

Casino specializes in narcotics detection, tracking and recovering lost and missing articles. A special thank you to Nick King with Von Der King Kennels and Training out of Howell, MI for getting the dog, as it wouldn’t have been possible without him.

Looking Forward

The Flint Police Department K-9 Unit is looking forward to many upcoming years of success. With the ongoing support of the department and the community, the Unit will continue to provide a great service to the City of Flint. The Flint Police Department would like to thank all of the individual and corporate sponsors that have allowed the K-9 unit to exist. All of the generous supporters have aided in providing food, equipment and finances that keep the Unit going! The Flint Police Department K-9 Unit is beyond grateful for all of the support that it receives.

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