How To... AMAURY MURGADO
HOW TO WORK WITH K-9 UNITS Don't discount the importance of letting police dogs and handlers do their jobs.
K
-9 teams are a valuable resource but only if everyone works as a team. If responding units don't do their part, they are helping the suspect get away. Understanding how a K-9 team operates and how best to work with them is everyone's business. Getting certified as a K-9 team is not an easy process. Every K-9 team must complete some type of basic tracking and apprehension course. Once certified, K-9 teams also must
tackle daily dog care, daily training requirements, and in the case of my former agency, weekly unit training as well. There's a special bond created between handler and dog that makes them act as one. That bond involves trust and communication that only time and experience will cultivate. In my five years as the K-9 lieutenant at my agency, I learned that the bond sometimes never fully materializes. I also learned that K-9 is not for everyone. To some, their fantasy about working with a K-9 unit doesn't match with the reality.
HOW BEST TO WORK WITH K-9S A veteran officer knows a well-trained K-9
team is worth its weight in gold. For example, using K-9 resources is the most effective way to search a building for a suspect. Unless there is an exigent circumstance, time is on your side. Use your time as a weapon instead of creating an excuse to rush in. The funny thing about working with K-9s is most of what they need us to do are things we are supposed to be doing in the first place. Our role includes setting up a perimeter, protecting a crime scene, staying off the radio while they are searching, and being a good cover officer.
PERIMETERS
K-9 assets are extremely well trained and can be worth their weight in gold when searching for a suspect.
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PHOTOS: CARLA BLAZEK
Every call we go to should be considered
a new call. I understand we handle many calls that turn out to be nothing, but we only learn that after the fact. It might be the 30th time we respond to the same alarm, but this might be the time the suspect is either still there or can be caught by deploying a K-9. A good perimeter keeps the suspect contained in an area. Every time the suspect goes on the move, the police presence forces them back inside the perimeter. In order for that to happen, each person on perimeter
needs to be in or by their car, lights on, and paying attention. It's also preferable to shut the car off, as the exhaust fumes kill the scent needed for any track. Many a bad guy has slipped by an officer who was talking on their cell phone, texting, or doing paperwork. While on perimeter, you must stay in the game. Don't be that person who thinks they are too good for perimeter work. It's as important as anything else required to handle the call. When setting up a perimeter, size matters. Bigger is better because you can always make it smaller later on. You also must be prepared to move the perimeter and adjust its position as you get updated
PHOTOS: CARLA BLAZEK
How To
Officers accompanying K-9s can confuse the animals' sense of smell if they are not careful.
information. A perimeter is not something you set up and leave alone; it evolves with the needs of the call. There are times when setting up a perimeter should be interrupted. For example, if an officer spots the suspect they need to stop what they're doing and shift focus. I remember one incident in particular where the suspects held back and tried to slip out onto a main street while driving normally. In essence, they were trying to hide in the open. A perimeter unit identified the car from the radio alert, let it pass as if nothing was going on, and then orchestrated a felony stop before the suspects could realize what was happening.
CRIME SCENE PROTECTION Every call requires you to assess the situation, and plan your actions accordingly.
As the dust settles you need to lock down the scene. Keep everyone out as much as possible until K-9 gets there. If you're in a situation where that's not possible, try to figure out where the suspect was last seen or exited and hold that. A K-9 works with its keen sense of smell. If 10 guys walk around your crime scene, it's going to be difficult for the K-9 to home in on the right scent. The better you protect your scene, the greater the odds that the K-9 will be able to lead you to the suspect.
THE RADIO Radio discipline is always a concern. It's
an officer safety issue plain and simple. If a K-9 is on a track, then everyone except the K-9 unit should stay off the radio, unless someone spots the suspect. If you are lucky to have an aviation asset respond, then radio traffic belongs to both K-9 and aviation units. The idea is for aviation to keep track of the K-9 team and help protect them by being their eyes in the sky. The secret to successful radio operations is to do your admin-type talking on another channel. Keep the channel clear where K-9 is tracking in order to receive updates. It's been my experience that some of the biggest violators are command staff. Every supervisor knows it's a neverending battle. Everyone needs to understand that when the incident commander knows something, they will too. 18
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The partnership between a K-9 handler and the dog is extremely close and built through extensive training.
COVER OFFICER A K-9 team should never run alone. Have another K-9 handler go with them or assign a patrol officer. My preference has always been to have another K-9 handler run as cover officer but that's a luxury that doesn't always happen. The flip side is you can't just pick anyone out of the blue either.
If you assign a patrol officer, make sure it's someone who is in good shape so they can keep up with the K-9 team. They must also have the skills needed to handle the suspect when they make contact. Being a cover officer for a K-9 team takes some training. If your agency doesn't offer it, consult with your K-9 unit and ask for it. Being a cover officer during a K-9 track is serious business so if you ever have any reservations about doing the job, please don't do it. The K-9 handler is focusing on the dog and can't be their own security. They also control the dog once contact is made; you have to control everything else. While on a track, stay close but stay behind the K-9 handler. Don't backlight the handler with your flashlight. If the dog turns around and starts heading in your direction, stand perfectly still until he moves away from you again. If the K-9 is off lead and running in your direction, freeze. When K-9s are in the apprehension mode, they really don't know you are the good guy. They are looking for movement and
can easily mistake you for the suspect.
FINAL THOUGHTS K-9 teams are an excellent resource, but
only if everyone does their part. The most highly regarded K-9 team in the world would still have trouble finding a suspect if there were no perimeter or if the crime scene was contaminated. I suggest that you meet with your agency's K-9 handlers and find out what it is they want from you. I also suggest attending their training from time to time. Watch firsthand what they do and why. Riding with them as part of a job-shadowing program will be beneficial as well. K-9 teams can only be on top of their game if you are on top of yours. Amaury Murgado retired a senior lieutenant from the Osceola County (FL) Sheriff's Office with over 29 years of experience. He also retired from the Army Reserve as a master sergeant. He holds a Master's of Political Science degree from the University of Central Florida.
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