Newsink december 2014

K-9 Cops in the Kingdom

Hey, burglar Smile, you’re on camera!

Volume 4, Issue 4 Dec. 2014

A man’s best Pawtner

Table of Contents

K-9 Arrow

3

Brandy Sniffer

6

Security Systems

7

10

Lost in the Woods

Writers: Ryan Jenot Kaylee Murphy Contributors: Dan Weiner Matt Drew Adviser: Dan Williams Cover photo from Jason Schlesinger NewsINK is a publication of the Vermont Center for Community Journalism at Lyndon State College.

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Address queries to Department of Electronic Journalism Arts, Lyndon State College, PO Box 919, Lyndonville, Vt. 05851

K-9 Arrow and Trooper Jason Schlesinger

Story by Ryan Jenot

To say that Trooper Jason Schlesinger is close to his K-9 partner Arrow would be an understatement.

“I spend more time with that dog than my family at most points,” said Schlesinger. “We’ve got a pretty good bond and that’s what we need because we both look out for each other while we’re on duty.”

K-9 Arrow works with Schlesinger at the Bradford Barracks. Close to six months of schooling as well as 18 hours per month of training are required for certification.

“Canines are an important tool that we have on hand just based off nose alone,” Schlesinger said.

Through the extensive training, K-9 Arrow developed a knack for finding drugs in vehicles and homes. He also uses his nose to track missing persons and fugitives.

According to Schlesinger, his partner has never been wrong.

“He’s never told me that there were drugs and then we didn’t find anythingwe’ve always found something,” said the four-year member of the VSP. “We back him 100 percent, so if he’s not up to par, we’re in trouble.” continued on page 4

Page 3

Shifts run nine to ten hours for the pair, but K-9 Arrow seems to know when his “police uniform” comes off.

“It’s funny how the dog knows that he’s got his uniform and he knows when he wears it, it’s time to work,” said Schlesinger. “When he’s not wearing it, he’s almost a pet.”

Of the 48 police dogs in Vermont, the State Police handle 21. The VSP barracks in St. Johnsbury is losing its dog, Quincy, who was recently diagnosed with bone cancer. Trooper David Roos is Quincy’s handler.

“He was always there for me, always had my back,” Roos told the Caledonian-Record. “ I was just talking to Eugene Duplissis [a Vermont State Police Trooper] about it and I think he said it best: ‘It feels like you just went to work without your gun.’”

K-9 Quincy is a German shepherd. Bone cancer can affect any type of dog, but it’s mostly found in larger breeds. The cost to care for Quincy is left to Trooper Roos and his family, but the surgery is being paid for by the Lacey Fund. The purpose of the Lacey Fund is to raise money for retired police dogs.

Photo from Vermont StatePolice

K-9 Arrow shows off his bulletproof vest

Page 4

Page 5

Brandy:

Lyndonville police get a new nose

Reporting by Dan Weiner A bloodhound named Brandy is the newest member of Lyndonville’s police department, but she won’t be ready for work until spring.

Chief Jack Harris is still training the dog for tracking, which takes time.

“When you’re training, what you want is to hit all four seasons,” Harris says. “If you have a dog that’s trained only in the winter time, that first 90-degree day you got to go out and track, that dog’s not going to kn3ow what to do.”

Harris starts with the basics and gets help from his wife, Kelly. She leaves a workout towel on the ground and walks a distance away, then lets Brandy find her. With that exercise under her belt, Brandy moves on to delayed searches.

“We start with a minute at a time,” Harris says. “We have someone lay a track with the dog not even present. Then we come back and the dog has to work out ‘Okay, who am I looking for and where’d they go?’”

It has been three years since Lyndonville’s police department has had a four-legged officer. Brandy came from a bloodhound rescue group in Arkansas. Her full name – compliments of Harris’s wife – is Brandy Sniffer.

“Besides training the dog, we’re also training the officers how to work around the dog.”

Brandy will be the only bloodhound with a police force in Vermont. Most police dogs in the state are German shepherds.

“To get her on the road and active and actually searching for people, we’re looking for around the First of June,” Harris says.

Image from News 7

Lyndonville Police Cheif Jack Harris trains Brandy.

Page 6

Image courtesy Izzy Jorgensen A burglary suspect reaches for the surveillence camera in the South Hero home of Daren Jorgensen

Security systems: what you really save

“Hey, get out of my house!

You’re on tape!”

That’s what South Hero homeowner Daren Jorgensen said to a man and woman who broke into his home while he was in California on Dec. 1.

continued on page 8

Story by Ryan Jenot

Page 7

Image from News 7

Michael Barrett Barrett Insurance Agency

The couple evidently didn’t know they were on camera as they wandered through the house. Jorgensen was alerted by his home surveillance system, called Dropcam. He told the thieves to leave and contacted the Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department.

The Jorgensen family shared the burglary video on Facebook. In the final frames, the female burglar is seen reaching for the camera.

More than 16,000 views and many tips later, authorities arrested Amy Davis and Nathan White, both of Milton, on suspicion of burglary.

Video surveillance systems are found in schools, businesses, homes, and even parking lots.

According to Michael Barrett from the Barrett’s Insurance Agency in St. Johnsbury, camera systems are an affordable option and they provide a peace of mind for people.

“[It’s] proof that evolving technology is going to catch more and more criminals and keep more people honest,” said Barrett. “It’s fantastic technology that’s affordable.”

Barrett said that although systems like the Dropcam provide reassurance for homeowners, the real savings come from central monitoring systems. These systems automatically notify law enforcement while systems similar to the Dropcam do not.

Barrett also said that vacation homes with central monitoring systems are more likely to receive a larger discount than a primary home.

From a law enforcement standpoint, Sergeant Brian May of the Vermont State Police St. Johnsbury Barracks says video surveillance is very important when it comes to investigating all sorts of crimes.

Page 8

“They’re definitely another tool in the toolbox that can help us identify people [and] suspects [in] crimes,” said May.

May also said that video surveillance can be used in court and is an excellent source of information.

“It provides great court evidence,” he said. “It’s circumstantial evidence, but it’s strong circumstantial evidence when you have a facial recognition. That could even prevent it from going to the level of trial.”

Barrett says it doesn’t matter what level of protection you purchase for your home. Whether it’s a Dropcam or a central monitoring system, you’re still saving.

“[There are] all kinds of layers for protection you can have for your home,” Barrett said. “So whether it’s deadbolt locks or proper security systems, if you’re looking for a good option, it’s about mitigating the potential for loss and making it easier to recoup.”

Image from News 7

Security camera watches over Barnie’s Market in Concord

Image Courtesy Izzy Jorgensen

Burglary suspects in the home of Daren Jorgensen

Page 9

Stay Safe in the Woods Story and photo

by Kaylee Murphy

Franconia Notch in New Hampshire, where LSC student David Fielding was rescued

When James was 13 he went out hunting with his dad in Vermont. They parted ways for a bit and after a few hours, James realized he was lost.

He didn’t have a cell phone on him, but he did have food, water, rope, a mini hatchet, and a gun. When it started to get dark he realized that he was going to have to spend the night in the woods. He built a fire and a simple shelter.

The night was scary, but he had his gun so he wasn’t too afraid.

His brother and father always told him to follow a river or a stream down and eventually he would come to a road. James found his way back to the trail and walked to the nearest house and asked to borrow their phone.

He got through to his parents, who had sent out a search party. He says they were so worried “they were s----ing their pants.”

James had no physical injuries from his night in the wilderness. His advice for anyone who is going into the woods: “Always tell someone where you are going.” Now a Lyndon State College student, James asked that his last name not be used in this story.

David Fielding is also a student at Lyndon. Last winter, he went hiking in New Hampshire around Franconia Notch. He left a note for his roommate saying when he planned on getting back. When he did not arrive by the time he said he would, his roommate contacted the college’s Public Safety office, who then notified the Vermont and New Hampshire police.

Unlike James, Fielding was never lost. He knew where he was, but the cold and snowy conditions made the hike harder than he anticipated. Tired and unable to see very far in the dark, Fielding was forced to spend the night outside. A search was launched at first light, and he was found around 1 in the afternoon. A helicopter took him off the mountain.

Fielding was physically fine. According to Fielding, if the State of New Hampshire thought he was “reckless” he could have been charged up to $150,000 for the rescue. He wasn’t deemed reckless because he was prepared and had the right equipment.

Ben Mirkin is a mountain recreation professor at Lyndon State College who was involved in the search for Fielding. He is a member of the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team in New Hampshire. In order to volunteer for search and rescue missions in New Hampshire, an individual has to have time, be physically fit, and pass a test. In addition, although it’s not required, having a wilderness first responder certification will help.

New Hampshire search and rescue operations are controlled by the Fish and Game Department and the National Guard. In Vermont, rescues are controlled by police.

New Hampshire has about 145 search and rescue operations a year at a cost of $360,000 annually. They are financed by a portion of the registration fee for off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and boats.

So far in the year 2014 Vermont has conducted 50 searches. The Vermont State Police works with local police departments, search and rescue volunteers, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Mirkin’s advice: “Go into the woods prepared.”

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