University hosts training for K-9 units in state
Mississippi State police officer Patrick Jenkins (left to right) with Miguel and officer Joshua Ellis with Bach participated in joint explosives detection training at Davis Wade Stadium last week.
Military working dog (MWD) teams from Columbus Air Force Base, as well as K-9 units from throughout the state, met with the FBI last Tuesday [Feb. 16] to perform joint explosives detection training at Mississippi State University in Starkville.
According to Special Agent Brandon Grant, a bomb technician for the FBI, the training was held to improve the canines’ detection of improvised and commercial explosives.
Participants included the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Fire Marshal, Southaven Police Department and Mississippi State University campus police.
“This is the second time we have done this [joint training], and by far the largest turnout we have had,” Grant said. “This is very important training primarily because the dogs can sweep a large venue -- a school, a stadium, a mall -- in a rapid fashion. Humans can use equipment that can also detect explosives, but the dogs can find things quicker.”
Throughout the morning K-9 teams took turns sweeping the stadium for training devices set out in advance by the FBI, practicing detecting a variety of improvised and commercial explosives.
According to Grant, improvised explosives are manufactured at home and are often associated with international and domestic terrorism, while commercial explosives are products purchased in their explosives state.
In addition to reinforcing training for the dogs, a major focus of the event was improving relationships between the various units.
“This is a collaboration between the FBI, the military, and state and local law enforcement who run K-9s,” Grant said. “Without that collaboration, the ability to detect explosives at venues like this would be greatly diminished.”
Many of the handlers agreed on the importance of joint work.
“The biggest benefit of coming out here today is getting your face out there, working with these agencies,” said Senior Airman Valentino Blank, 14th Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog handler. “We respond to a lot of off-base incidents, so the face time with the people outside of the military is beneficial.”
According to Staff Sgt. Karl Stefanowicz, Kennel Master at Columbus AFB, the reason Columbus AFB’s MWD unit responds off-base is a bilateral agreement with Lowndes County to provide humanitarian support for bomb threats.
The camaraderie between the various organizations was clear as they compared their canines and swapped stories.
“For a campus, they want it to be a highly sociable dog,” said Officer Patrick Jenkins from the Mississippi State University Police Department, as his canine partner, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois named Miguel, trotted over for a pat on the head. “At the same time, if it’s needed for a patrol, the bite work, the guard work, they can still do those aspects of the job when they’re needed.”
By contrast, wilitary working dog Nnora bore a nametag saying, “Do not pet.” Stefanowicz, her handler, explained MWDs are equipment, not pets.
“The reason we don’t allow people to pet our MWDs is due to safety and liability issues,” Stefanowicz said. While the dogs are trained to obey their handlers, their aggressive nature makes it safer to have strangers not approach.
One thing the K-9 handlers shared, though, was an appreciation for the job.
“MWD is a great career field, one of the best changes I ever did,” Blank said. “I went from regular law enforcement with the cops and it’s been absolutely great.”
2nd Lt. Lauren Woods | 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
