Class of 15-18 Week #9
Week #9, K9 Night
Deputy Sheriff Pat Martin from the Barnstable County Sheriff's office gave an overview of his duties as a K9 officer and described the training that his partner, Dex, went through to become a "tracking" dog. Dex is a Belgian Malinois who went through 16 weeks of training with Deputy Martin, learning how to track human scent. Tracking dogs have to have a high drive, nerves of steel, and be willing to follow wherever the "scent" leads them. Officer Matt O'Brien from the Sandwich PD climbed into the ultra-padded "bite suit" so that Dex could demonstrate what he does when he has to take down a suspected criminal. He latched onto Officer O'Brien's arm and did not let go until Deputy Martin gave him the command to release. Dex has his own bullet- and knife-proof vest. Off duty, Dex lives with Deputy Martin's family and plays with them and the other family dog. For the second half of class, Officer O'Brien brought in his dog Koda, who has been trained to locate narcotics. She looks like a little pipsqueak, but she has a stellar reputation for being able to locate drugs, no matter how creatively hidden. Koda is approaching retirement and will be replaced by Tuukka, Officer O'Brien's new narcotics dog, who is a German short-haired pointer. Tuukka is still in the middle of his 12-week training regimen with Officer O'Brien.
Next Week's Class: Major Crimes with the SPD Detective Division
Deputy Sheriff Pat Martin from the Barnstable County Sheriff's office gave an overview of his duties as a K9 officer and described the training that his partner, Dex, went through to become a "tracking" dog. Dex is a Belgian Malinois who went through 16 weeks of training with Deputy Martin, learning how to track human scent. Tracking dogs have to have a high drive, nerves of steel, and be willing to follow wherever the "scent" leads them. Officer Matt O'Brien from the Sandwich PD climbed into the ultra-padded "bite suit" so that Dex could demonstrate what he does when he has to take down a suspected criminal. He latched onto Officer O'Brien's arm and did not let go until Deputy Martin gave him the command to release. Dex has his own bullet- and knife-proof vest. Off duty, Dex lives with Deputy Martin's family and plays with them and the other family dog. For the second half of class, Officer O'Brien brought in his dog Koda, who has been trained to locate narcotics. She looks like a little pipsqueak, but she has a stellar reputation for being able to locate drugs, no matter how creatively hidden. Koda is approaching retirement and will be replaced by Tuukka, Officer O'Brien's new narcotics dog, who is a German short-haired pointer. Tuukka is still in the middle of his 12-week training regimen with Officer O'Brien.
Next Week's Class: Major Crimes with the SPD Detective Division
- Class photo will be taken next Thursday, 5/24, at 6 p.m. in front of the PD. Class will follow at the Human Services Building, as usual.
- The range date is tentatively scheduled for 5/26, details to follow.
- Don't forget: Graduation dinner at the Dan'l Webster on June 6th; please give your menu selection(s) and checks to Mike Miller by next week's class.
Contributing Editor, Donna Leiss
Photos courtesy of Bob Nichols
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