Class 13-16 Week #12
Week #12: K-9 Demonstration
The Sandwich Citizens Police Academy wrapped up its 15th session with two riveting K-9 demonstrations. First, Deputy Sheriff Pat Martin from the Barnstable County Sheriff's office gave an overview of the training that he and his dog, Dex, went through. Dex is a "people locator," trained to track human odor--not just criminals, but lost children or Alzheimer's patients who have wandered off. SPD officer Matt O'Brien donned the bite suit for a demonstration of how Dex, let off his leash, can tackle and bring down a 220-lb man. Officer O'Brien was none the worse for wear after the episode, and Dex was rewarded for his efforts by lots of praise from Deputy Martin.
Officer O'Brien then brought out Koda, SPD's drug-locating dog, to show how efficiently she is able to locate hidden drugs. Her first "find" was a tiny amount of pills hidden in a car door frame. Officer O'Brien then lined up 4 volunteers, one of whom had a tiny amount of drugs hidden in her pants pocket (thank you, Officer Lauren Gilrein). Koda located the drugs promptly and was rewarded with a handful of kibble, her usual reward for a successful find. Both dogs undergo 16 weeks of training, but with vastly different focuses. Dex was trained to follow human scent, and Koda was trained to follow drug scent. Both dogs and handlers train constantly to keep their skills sharp.
In between the K-9 demos, the class was treated to a lavish buffet of delicious homemade chili and corn muffins, broccoli and chicken pasta, taco salad, and a huge assortment of homemade desserts. The maple-bacon cupcakes were a huge hit.
At the end of class, students took turns providing comments on the course--"Beyond amazing!" "Exceeded my expectations!" "I have a new appreciation for what the PD does" were typical comments, and everybody praised the variety of topics and the opportunities for field trips. Sgt Lawrence did a terrific job in his new role as course director, keeping the class entertained and engaged with his combination of knowledge and humor. Many students said that they would love to take a "graduate" police academy course in the future.
Graduation is next Thursday, June 16th, at 6:30 at the Dan'l Webster Inn. You won't want to miss the hilarious slide show that Deputy Chief Nurse is putting together. Donna Leiss, Contributing Editor
Officer O'Brien then brought out Koda, SPD's drug-locating dog, to show how efficiently she is able to locate hidden drugs. Her first "find" was a tiny amount of pills hidden in a car door frame. Officer O'Brien then lined up 4 volunteers, one of whom had a tiny amount of drugs hidden in her pants pocket (thank you, Officer Lauren Gilrein). Koda located the drugs promptly and was rewarded with a handful of kibble, her usual reward for a successful find. Both dogs undergo 16 weeks of training, but with vastly different focuses. Dex was trained to follow human scent, and Koda was trained to follow drug scent. Both dogs and handlers train constantly to keep their skills sharp.
In between the K-9 demos, the class was treated to a lavish buffet of delicious homemade chili and corn muffins, broccoli and chicken pasta, taco salad, and a huge assortment of homemade desserts. The maple-bacon cupcakes were a huge hit.
At the end of class, students took turns providing comments on the course--"Beyond amazing!" "Exceeded my expectations!" "I have a new appreciation for what the PD does" were typical comments, and everybody praised the variety of topics and the opportunities for field trips. Sgt Lawrence did a terrific job in his new role as course director, keeping the class entertained and engaged with his combination of knowledge and humor. Many students said that they would love to take a "graduate" police academy course in the future.
Graduation is next Thursday, June 16th, at 6:30 at the Dan'l Webster Inn. You won't want to miss the hilarious slide show that Deputy Chief Nurse is putting together. Donna Leiss, Contributing Editor
Photos courtesy of Pauline Fortin and Bob Nichols