FIUPD K-9 Unit keeps campus safe from bomb threats

By: Patricia Menendez/Contributing Writer

 

The FIU Police Department’s K-9 unit consists of three active teams who serve the purpose of explosive detection under the management of Lieutenant Michael Gonzalez.

After a period of inactivity, the unit was restarted in 2014 by Chief Alexander Casas. It consists of: Scout, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois; Koda, a 5-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever; Sam, a 5-year-old German Shepherd; and the newcomer Bandit, a 4-year-old German Shepherd.

Scout’s handler is Officer Roberto Leal, Koda’s is Officer Alex Morejon, Sam’s is Officer Zuny Servello and Bandit’s will be Officer Brendan Monroe.  

Scout and Leal work the morning shift at MMC, whereas Sam and Zuny work the afternoon shift. Koda and Morejon are in charge of the BBC campus. Bandit’s scheduling is still undecided.

Leal told Student Media that there is always a dog on campus to ensure a safe environment for the University.

All teams are always on callback, and provide a 24/7 service.

All dogs are donated by the U.S. K-9 Academy and Police Dog Training Center by their vendor trainer, Peter Nuñez.

During the selection process, FIUPD looks for dogs with the hunt drive, retrieve drive, and home drive, according to Leal.

“What it boils down to is the wolf looking for the rabbit. We are looking for the dog that is going to work. Not every dog can be a police dog,” Leal said.

In order for an officer to become a handler in FIU he or she must have been a road officer for at least three years and have an oral interview with Nuñez and Leal, who is the most experienced K-9 officer.

The officer’s admittance is based on the score of the interview and other criteria such as performance and attendance.

To pair a dog with a handler, Nuñez first meets the handler and based on his or her personality he chooses a dog that matches it. FIUPD officially owns the dogs, but the animals is also the handlers’ responsibility.

Handlers are responsible for feeding, maintenance, and care, whereas the department’s responsibilities are purchase of food and payment of medical bills. Dogs do go home with their handlers and are provided with a kennel or crate by the department as well.

The dogs are kept in vehicles designed specifically for K-9 teams. Each vehicle is equipped with a cage, “hot dog sensor” or heat alarm system, and a carbon monoxide detector. While on campus the dogs are kept in the vehicles until they are called for.

“These dogs aren’t pets. They are a tool for us and they are a working dog. So a lot of training and care takes place unlike a regular pet’.” Leal said. “The K-9 unit has a no pet policy.”

However, a dog and their handler do have a close bond. Servello said that Sam is her best friend and that she “spends more time with her than [her] actual family.”

To be fully operational the K-9 unit must receive certification each year under the International Forensic Research Institute by K-9 evaluators with a required score of 99 percent.

Dogs begin their training at the age of 1. FIU K-9 unit training only consists of explosive detection. Leal said that explosives consist of eight usual odors. A dog learns the odor through “scent association,” meaning that the dog associates the odor with his toy, which is his reward. Once the dog does this, he has imprinted on the odor.

These odors are put into an aluminum box, a training aid provided by the U.S. K-9 Academy and Police Dog Training Center. The box is presented to the dogs, and if they sit that means they have successfully imprinted on the odors and are given their toy.

After this the odors are then split up and the dog is “runned” on each odor. The handlers look for any change in their behavior, breathing, and body posture as indicators for detection. As soon as the dog sits the odor has been recognized and they are given their toy, thus completing the training process.

Training occurs on and off campus in order to increase the dog’s exposure to different environments. They train with Miami Dade County Police, the City of Miami, Customs and Border Protection, ATF and FBI.

The dogs are trained everyday to be up to date with any new training methods and trends. For instance, the FBI came to imprint the dogs on a new odor used in a peroxide based explosive that is being used overseas.

No dogs have been injured while on the job.

“We’re very lucky working here at FIU Police at a university campus. It’s different than working outside in the sense of the dangers. Here, it is a very safe environment,” said Leal.

The K-9 unit is used during special events, sporting events, visits by dignitaries, and upon Secret Service request. However the dogs are active every day.

Leal said that the K-9 unit is “a great asset to have” because “it reduces the disruption of ongoing operations for the students and the staff if there were to be any suspicious package on campus.

Currently, Scout is on light duty because a mass was found in his spleen during his annual physical. He underwent surgery and received negative results from his biopsy.

“Scout and I want to thank anyone for their get well wishes and prayers. We appreciate the FIU community for praying for his well-being,” said Leal.