Hobbs K-9 Unit Outfitted with Protective Vests
The bark certainly matches the bite for a five-year-old Belgian Malinois named Bach assigned to the K-9 unit at the Hobbs Police Department.
“Their life is on the line just like ours is.” Officer Stanley Jordan, who handles Bach said they’re grateful for large donation that provided protective vests for all three canine officers in the department, “We’re very appreciative.”
The dogs are considered a tool for the department but handlers like Officer Jordan do get attached.
“That’s your partner and yeah you don’t want to see anything happen to your partner, but our outlook is I would rather see my dog in a dangerous situation rather than put a fellow officer in a dangerous situation when we don’t have to,” he said.
It’s not clear if Bach likes his new vest, but he is a little safer because of it.
“I am sure they don’t like it, because it’s hot.” Officer Stanley says the dogs know what kind of action is required of them by the equipment used.
The dogs can pinpoint even the slightest amount of drugs. During a police simulation, Bach alerts Officer Jordan to 28 grams of marijuana inside a police van.
“He works. He really works hard, because that’s what he is trained to do.” Officer Jordan said all the commands are in Dutch.
The reward for all his hard work is a red ball and a little play time. Bach is a bit of a work-a-holic. He’s even found drugs off duty at an area park.
Quattro the police dog retires after 8 years
WEST COVINA – The Police Department will soon lose one its most valued officers: Quattro, an 11-year-old Dutch shepherd.
After eight years with the department, Quattro – the longest serving police dog in West Covina’s history – is retiring on July 17.
“It’s very emotional,” said Officer Pete Gallardo, Quattro’s partner. “He’s been my partner for four years. I spend more time with him than with anyone else I know.”
Pooches Quattro, Rocco, and Rambo make up the department’s K-9 Unit, which was founded in 1981.
Quattro is the unit’s longest-serving dog. Rambo has served for four years, and Rocco has been on the force for one.
Quattro is the most experienced of the bunch, having participated
in 500 searches and about 75 arrests. But the canine is starting to show his age.Gallardo said that a doctor recently found cancerous cells in Quattro’s bladder.
The pooch has also lost some of his steam in the past year.
“A lot of the reason why he is retiring is he is getting older, and he doesn’t have the stamina he used to,” Gallardo said.
Instead of bringing in another pooch to make the three-dog unit complete, budget restraints are forcing the department to make do with just two canines.
West Covina Cpl. Brad Smith, who trains the canines in the unit, said the cost of another dog and training is $13,500. That doesn’t include the cost of paying and training officers.
While he understands the city’s budget restraints, he is disappointed to see they will be one dog short in the unit.
“The officers themselves are losing out on a very good officer-safety tool,” Smith said.
At least Quattro has retirement plans of an officer’s dreams, Smith said.
“Pete (Gallardo) will buy Quattro from the city for $1, assume all liability, and Quattro will live the rest of his days playing golf and lying by the pool,” Smith said.
Mansfield K-9 officer, partner win award
City police officer Steve Hornback calls working with a dog the best job a cop can have.
“You always have backup,” he said.
Hornback and his K-9 partner, Astor, have been busy during their year and a half together. Astor has sniffed out more than 17 pounds of marijuana and been a part of more than 100 arrests.
The duo won three awards at a recent U.S. Police K-9 Association competition in Marion. Astor finished fourth out of 34 dogs in apprehension and bite work, and seventh in drug sniffing.
The 3-year-old German shepherd was born in Slovakia and trained in Germany. He goes home with Hornback at the end of each shift.
“If you’re not working, he’s just a regular dog. He’s a fantastic dog at home; he fits in real well,” Hornback said. “The second I put this uniform on, you can see a light go on in his eyes, and he’s all business.”
Astor is trained in detecting six types of narcotics, tracking, article search and apprehension. Sgt. Ken Coontz, who supervises the department’s K-9 unit, can appreciate Hornback and Astor — Coontz had a K-9 partner for three years.
“Officer Hornback and Astor are a credit to the Mansfield Police Department and certainly the community,” he said. “They put in a lot of extra hours in training.”
In part because of the economy, the department has only one K-9 unit. Coontz would like to see that number climb to three.
Hornback estimated they trained for 40 hours to get ready for the recent competition. They work from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. to be able to cover second and third shifts. He said only two suspects have tried to flee from his German shepherd.
“They see the dog and they know it’s not worth trying,” he said. “You can’t outrun a dog, especially this one.”
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