NVERS EOD K9 Teams in the Spotlight

When last we last shared an update on the NVERS EOD K9 teams, they had recently completed a five-week intensive training course and had attended their graduation ceremony. Now, several months after graduation, the teams have attended regional trainings, conferences, and exercises, as well as have been requested to conduct searches of buildings or outdoors spaces prior to events.

For those less familiar with the project, let us bring you up to speed. In the spring of 2014, five Northern Virginia Law Enforcement agencies received an explosive ordinance detection canine procured by NVERS through an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant. The K9s, having already completed several months of training, traveled from a facility in Alabama to be teamed up with new handlers in Northern Virginia. Over the course of several weeks, the teams trained in office buildings, schools, public event spaces, and parking lots to hone their detection skills. The officers quickly realized that being a K9 handler was going to be less glamorous than perhaps anticipated. The teams trained before dawn or late into the night during the usually cold winter, and always had to put their partner’s needs above their own.

Needless to say, the teams have been busy since graduation. The teams have trained with other agencies, such as Andrews Air Force K9 Unit, Prince George’s County K9 Unit, the FBI, TSA, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, and Prince William County K9 Unit. Moreover, several teams were in attendance for a large scale drill hosted by the FBI in May, held at Wolf Trap. The exercise allowed the teams to search rooms, outdoor seating areas, and expose the dogs to foreign scents, such as peroxide.

In addition to training, the teams have been hard at work in their home jurisdictions on routine calls. One of the teams completed a building search after a bomb threat had been called in. Although the suspect had turned himself into authorities, the K9 team did discover a room where blasting caps had been left. Another team was asked to respond to a shooting in which the suspect had fled on foot. Although neither a firearm nor additional shell casings were detected, it is an example of how this capability can be used in the region. More recently, one of the K9 teams was requested to conduct sweeps of the July 4th Parade route in Fairfax City.

In addition to providing information on training and exercises, the K9 teams were also asked “what is one thing your K9 partner has taught you?” The resounding response from the teams was some variation of “always trust your dog!” In order to do their job effectively and safely, the officers need to trust that their K9 will alert them to any device or substance in the immediate area. One officer also mentioned that she enjoyed educating the public on her K9’s role in the police department and being able to work with a breed unique to law enforcement.