Police dogs spend week training their noses at Bellingham conference
Klickitat County Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Gunnyon said his police dog, a 31/2-year-old black lab named Jet, never ceases to bring energy and enthusiasm to rooting out hidden drugs with his nose.
But even the most eager of drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers can use ongoing training, which is why Gunnyon, Jet and dozens of others came to Bellingham this week for the Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dog Association’s 12th annual conference.
Gunnyon and Jet participated in field exercises at six sites around the city; each was designed to get the dog accustomed to sniffing out hidden drugs in a different environment.
Gunnyon also had the chance to partake in classroom exercises and share information and experiences with fellow handlers
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/21/1194864/police-dogs-spend-week-training.html#ixzz0oaemGSKw
Consistency, success with K-9 unit earn recognition for this ‘Officer of the Year’
The North Smithfield Police Department Officer of the Year may seem to have a worse bark than bite, but his partner certainly doesn’t.
K-9 Officer Jared Salinaro, selected as North Smithfield Police Department's 2009 Officer of the Year, gives his fellow crime fighter, Vasko, a good scratch behind the ears. Salinaro has been with the department since 2002 and helped to re-establish the K-9 program. Valley Breeze photo by Brenna McCabe
Officer Jared Salinaro, the department’s only K-9 officer, was honored at last week’s Town Council meeting as 2009 Officer of the Year.
Police Chief Steven Reynolds said Salinaro had an impressive, and more importantly, consistent record with the department. The officer recorded 65 arrests – the record for 2009 – 53 K-9 deployments and zero sick days in 2009. Much like his canine friend, 4-year-old Vasko, Reynolds said Salinaro always brought “high energy” to his daily duties.
“All of the officers, they’re all doing a good job,” Reynolds said. “But what we look for is consistency. He’s extremely consistent in his duties and he’s a high-performing officer. This award doesn’t go out for any one particular case.”
Salinaro was nominated through the command staff, Reynolds said, and no one was allowed to nominate someone under his or her direct command. The chief added the staff looked at all aspects of the officers’ service, including public service.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE
K-9s are a girl’s best friend
UPDATE 5/22/10: I received this email from Grace’s mother. Apparently the article written in the Glendale News was incorrect. I pointed her in the direction of the article’s author, Veronia Rocha.
“I don’t know who you are. But you were writing about my daughter Grace
Bunduka. PLEASE get your facts straight. PA PD’s did respond to Grace’s patch
request. In fact, the Whitehall Police Dept K9 division was the FIRST to take
Grace on a training session. Glendale’s PD did the most for Grace but that was
how the relationship developed, NOT because of any PD in PA! It was the school
that let her down and did not allow the local [Whitehall] K9 unit deliver the
vest during Grace’s school presentation. It was the school NOT any PA PD’s. I
can only hope that you respond respectfully to this correction.
Rosanne Bunduka, EMT-PHTLS
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It took a 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl who suffers from a neurological disorder several tries and a police department on the other side of the country to finally make her wish of connecting with a K-9 unit come true.
After getting nowhere with local police stations in her home state, Glendale police officers arranged an educational trip for Grace Bunduka and her mother, Rosanne Bunduka, to visit the area’s police dogs.
On Wednesday, Grace finally got to meet several police dogs and hold their leashes at a training facility in Ventura.
“It was awesome,” Grace said.
Her struggle with her illness and desire to meet a highly trained pooch struck a chord with Glendale Police K-9 handler Shawn Sholtis, who discovered her wish through an e-mail.
Glendale Police K-9 Officer Shawn Sholtis, left, chats with 12-year-old Grace Bunduka, center, and her mother Rosanne Bunduka, right, during the 15th Annual glendale Police Awards Luncheon at the Glendale HIlton on Thursday. Officer Sholtis sent the younger Bunduka, who suffers from severe neurological problems, the initial K-9 patch and has helped her get additional ones for her 6th-grade project vest. The Bundukas were flown in for the luncheon by the Glendale Police Department. (Raul Roa/News-Press)
After reading a book about K-9 handlers, the sixth-grader expressed a desire be one herself. Her mother then hatched a plan to e-mail police agencies throughout the region requesting that they send in K-9 patches to place on a vest. The vest was going to be worn during a presentation with a K-9 officer at an advanced placement reading class. Sholtis received the e-mail November last year and sent her a care package, which included a patch, a letter, photographs and K-9 cards.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE
K-9 officer places high at Camp Ripley
At the Camp Ripley, Minn., canine trials, Wahpeton K-9 Police Officer Stryker received his yearly certification and participated in several competitions, including outside vehicle narcotics searches, inside narcotics search, tracking and evidence recovery. Stryker came in third place in tracking and second in evidence recovery.
“It took Stryker six seconds to locate the gun that was in the field,” said Officer Dustin Hill, Stryker’s partner. “That was my first time out with him. I’ve had him since January, so it went real well.”
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE/PICS HERE
Police to get 2 new K-9 dogs
Two new police dogs will soon be on patrol in Lawrenceville.
Commissioners approved the purchase and training of two new K-9 officers Tuesday, at a price of $30,412.
Police Chief Charles Walters said the dogs will replace two of the current K-9s who are “nearing the end of their careers.”
“Those K-9 units are invaluable tools for the police department,” he said of the dogs, trained to detect drugs and help apprehend criminals. “It gives us just one more tool to provide public safety for the county.”
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE
$6K gift puts K-9 officer within reach
Another K-9 will continue Axle’s legacy.
The Rock Falls Police Department now has about $9,000 of the $10,000 it needs to secure the successor to the late 7-year-old German shepherd. Axle died of prostate cancer in February.
Just last week, the department was well short of its goal — until receiving $6,000, Rock Falls Police Chief Mike Kuelper said during Tuesday’s Rock Falls City Council meeting.
“It feels fantastic that the community is so supportive,” Kuelper said.
The officer and K-9 will be selected during August and September, and the new partners will train together in October and November. Training last 6 to 8 weeks, Kuelper said.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE
Sheriff’s K-9 sniffs out missing 6-year-old boy in Summit County
Thanks for sending, Laura!
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Summit Sheriff’s canine Bobby recently tracked down a 6-year-old Blue River boy who got lost at a construction site, wandered into a stranger’s home and fell asleep.
“In less than two hours, we were able to reunite this little boy with his parents,” Summit County Sheriff John Minor said in a press release issued Wednesday.
The boy had left his home with the family dog at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday. About 30 minutes later, the dog returned home without the boy and the parents called the authorities.
At the parents’ request, the name or address of the boy or his parents were not released, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Tracy LeClair said.
After he got lost, the boy reportedly said he approached several houses before finding one with an open door.
“After getting something to eat and drink, he turned on the TV and fell asleep on the couch,” according to the press release.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE
British policeman wins UFO investigation award
Gary Heseltine’s fascination with the unexplained in British skies began at the age of 15, when he spotted a mysterious bright light while walking his first girlfriend home.
The 49-year-old father-of-two picked up the 2010 Disclosures Award in Washington for his website, prufospolicedatabase.co.uk, which he launched in 2002.
He said: “Winning the award was a total surprise, I didn’t know I was going to win until my name was read out.
“It’s also a terrific boost for my database as it puts me on an international platform and I have already been offered chances to give lectures in Brazil and Denmark.”
Mr Heseltine, from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, has amassed a database including 330 cases and the witness statements of more than 750 police officers.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE/PIC HERE
L.A. County Sheriff’s Unveil New High-Tech Web Site
I’m wondering why they’d bother to write this article without including the URL of the site they’re talking about?!
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The Sheriff’s Department announced May 16 the launching of a new high-tech Web site that will feature photos, videos, interactive maps and frequently updated content.
Some of the new features include a Crime Information and Prevention page that shows crime mapping and statistical data for cities contracting out to the Sheriff’s Department. There are also more than 70 crime prevention links and information for topics ranging from identity theft to burglary, and substance abuse information and prevention.
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE
NY State police honor troopers, others
The state police honored 48 people this morning at the State Police Annual Awards Day Ceremony.
Numerous members of Troop G and the East Greenbush Police Department were lauded for their actions in January 2009 during a standoff with a passenger in a taxi stopped on I-90 in East Greenbush.
In addition, two members of the Albany Fire Department and two Capital Region companies were recognized for their work with the State Police.
The ceremony followed the annual Memorial Day Service to honor the memory and service of deceased members of the State Police.
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