K-9 Unit

The Byron Police Department acquired two European imported Belgian Malinois police dogs in 2009 trained in narcotics detection by K-9 Global Training Academy. This acquisition was made possible through a Federal Grant Program and with the use of drug funds resulting from seizures by the Byron Police Department. The K-9s are assigned to the Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) Unit.  

The police K-9s have been professionally trained and are certified to detect the presence of marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.

The ability of the police K-9s to locate concealed narcotics contraband rests with two major qualities which are inherent in the police service dog. The first is the dog's amazing sense of smell.

When the remarkable sense is coupled with the dog's strong play and hunting drives, the dogs are taught to associate the scent of specific narcotics with their "reward" or "toy." To earn this reward, the dogs are trained to search boxes, rooms, yards, automobiles, and any other locations where there is a likelihood that someone may have concealed narcotics contraband. An effort is made to prevent the dog from coming into direct contact with any of these drugs as these drugs are as poisonous to dogs as they are to humans.

Suspects sometimes use distraction scents to mask the odor of narcotics contraband in an attempt to foil the detection capabilities of the animals. However, for the most part, these efforts have failed as documented by the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of seized narcotics contraband which were destined for street-level sales.

Byron Police Department K-9 Unit Facts

• After the dogs arrived from Europe, the dogs and handlers completed a rigorous course of training which lasted approximately eight weeks.
• Once the teams were put in service, they must train daily to maintain their skills and then train twice monthly as a group.
• Each dog costs about $8,500 and was purchased with asset forfeiture funds (money that has been seized from suspects engaged in drug trafficking) or a Federal Grant.
• Generally, the dog teams work together for about six years.
• All of the patrol dogs in the unit are cross-trained or dual-purpose dogs. That is to say, they are trained to find hidden controlled substances including marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. The dogs are also trained for patrol work which includes tracking, handler protection, and public/community relations.
• Since the program began, the various K-9 teams have been responsible for numerous large quantity seizures of controlled substances and numerous dangerous felony arrests.
• The dogs are assigned to one handler and live with the officer at home.
• The officer/handler is responsible for feeding, grooming, and taking care of the dog.
• The patrol vehicles which are assigned to the handlers are specially equipped to allow a comfortable and secure area for the dog to ride on patrol. There is water and a climate control devices in place to make sure the K-9 is protected from the environment.
• The K-9 teams often demonstrate their abilities and duties to schools and other public organizations.
• The K-9 teams often assist other agencies and have received numerous awards.
• Once the police service dog is taken out of active service because of age or medical problems, it is usually retained by its handler where it continues to be a member of the handler's family.

A General History of K-9 and Law Enforcement

Law enforcement agencies throughout the world have long recognized the value of properly trained police service dogs. These animals, when appropriately utilized, have time and time again proved themselves instrumental in achieving the objectives and missions of the law enforcement agency.

The police K-9, due to its strength, agility, courage, and amazing olfactory capabilities can be utilized to assist law enforcement in various tasks in a more thorough and efficient manner.

Because of these attributes, police service dogs can be utilized to assist in searching for potentially violent criminals, aid in the apprehension of fleeing criminals who may place innocent community members or other police officers at risk of injury.

The dogs also offer the department an effective public relations tool to disseminate information about the police department's mission/functions/crime fighting efforts. In potentially dangerous situations, the police K-9 can often assume the risk by preventing exposure of a police officer to a violent confrontation. And finally, since all the K-9s are trained to detect narcotics contraband, they have located literally hundreds and hundreds of pounds of marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin.

The Byron Police Department K-9 Unit frequently provides demonstrations to the public. Thesedemonstrations showcase many of the unit’s capabilities and are usually arranged for schools and various organizations. To schedule a public demonstration, drug awareness talk, or narcotics canine sweep, contact Officer Lee Smith by email. (lsmith@byronga.com or click here).

K-9 Training

Drug dogs are trained to find marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines (meth).

When selected in Europe, most of the dogs have a basic understanding of tracking, obedience, and handler protection. Once they are imported and arrive here, they continue training until they meet Global’s standards and then are matched to a handler.

What follows is an eight-week training period where the handler bonds with his dog and the teams are trained to effectively work together. Global Training Academy has a mandatory and high standard drug dog certification process. If the drug dog handler and drug dog do not meet the certification standards in the normal course of the drug dog handler training with his drug dog; they are not certified as a team.

In addition to the mandatory drug dog certification, each drug dog handler must also pass three performance evaluations (buildings, vehicles, and luggage) and a written test. Once all the requirements have been met, the team is graduated.

Drug dog handler training is designed to train a person on how to handle a drug dog; student handler will receive basic skills in the safe and effective handling of a drug detector dog, search techniques for contraband concealed in buildings, vehicles, open areas, luggage and packages will be developed. Handlers will be able to use wind currents effectively to enhance the dog's detection abilities. Each handler will be able to maintain accurate training and use records for development of proficiency and corrective training should it ever be required.

The teams train together twice a month and the handlers will often individually train daily to reinforce the skills that have been previously taught. They also attend additional K-9 drug detection recertification and enhancement schools. The teams also have certifications from the National Police Canine Association.