Delaware State Police Canine Unit
Delaware State Police Canine Division, in 2005, continued to fall under the supervision of trainers Cpl./3 Brian Anderson and Cpl./2 Joseph Gardner. At the close of the year, 23 patrol teams and 4 single purpose teams were working throughout the state. Eight of those teams are cross-trained for narcotic detection and 9 are cross-trained for explosive detection. A patrol-trained canine was trained and certified with a new handler in the spring, following the resignation of the canine’s former handler. Four new DSP handlers, and their new canine partners, were trained and certified during the 12-week Patrol Certification Course in the fall. In addition, the training staff continued to conduct monthly in-service training with current DSP canine teams and 6 municipal teams. Several large-scale operations involving multiple canine teams were undertaken during 2005. These missions, including the State Fair, Governor Minner’s 2nd term Inauguration, two NASCAR races and the Council on State Governments event, were coordinated and overseen by the training staff. The staff also served as the contact point for two newly formed joint operations with the Delaware River & Bay Authority and Amtrak. The Canine Division took advantage of several training opportunities offered by these and other outside agencies as well.
The training staff began training and certifying a previously trained canine and a formerly retired handler on April 4th. The team of Cpl./3 Dave New and K9 Bard finished their training on May 13th and returned to patrol duties at Troop 9. K9 Bard’s former handler resigned from the division shortly after completing their initial training in December of 2004. Four new canines were purchased during the summer and were assigned to their new handlers. These four teams began their 12-week basic-training course on September 26th. They completed their training and graduated on December 19th. The class consisted of the following personnel: Tfc. Robert Kunicki & K9 Esta Troop 6 Tfc. Justin Galloway & K9 Aron Troop 5 Tfc. William Bant & K9 Britt Troop 5 Tfc. Matthew Blakeman & K9 Turbo Troop 7
The Canine Division did not escape its share of losses in 2005. K9 Rakker, age 7, who was partnered with Cpl. Steve Kelly at Troop 7, passed away from bloat on March 3rd while in route to the veterinary hospital. Cpl. Dan Parks' K9 partner, Heico, passed away on June 24th. The team worked uniformed patrol at Troop 6. Neither handler took on another partner and both retired from the unit. Retired K9 Uran, who had been partnered with Sgt. Mike Wheeler while working at Troop 3 from 1997-2003, passed away in January at the age of 9. Retired K9 Indian, who was partnered with Cpl. J.S. Evans at Troop 4 from 1997-2001, passed away on May 23rd. Indian was 11. Cpl. Joe Gardner’s partner Rufus, the unit’s oldest actively working K9 at age 11, retired from service this year. Cpl Gardner is now partnered with K9 Shane. Shane is patrol & narcotic detection trained. He was recently retired from the Dover Police Department. Shane and his former handler, Pfc. Nick Berna, were trained by DSP in 1997. Pfc. Berna resigned from Dover PD and is currently deployed in Iraq with a private security company.
Aside from their required patrol functions, canine teams continued to play a significant role as a means of support for Uniformed Patrol, the Division’s special units, and outside agencies. The Canine Unit also continued the tradition of serving as one of most requested and visible tools for positive public relations.
The Narcotic Detection Canine Teams, NDCTs, conducted 146 searches in 2005. This figure nearly doubles the 75 searches conducted in 2004. On November 17th, Cpl./1 Wysock & K9 Brody, from Troop 6, assisted the DEA and other road troopers with the search of a Chevy Blazer in the Millcreek area. K9 Brody climbed into the rear of the SUV and began to scratch at the lid of a 5-gallon plastic bucket. Upon opening the bucket, troopers observed 5 individually wrapped one- pound bricks of methamphetamine. Detective Meadows & K9 Cole, of SIU-North, searched a vehicle on February 11th on the Kirkwood Highway. The Pontiac Grand Am’s occupants were being investigated for the delivery of large amounts of narcotics. K9 Cole alerted on the exterior of the trunk and when the trunk was opened, Cole jumped in and began biting at a large garbage bag. That bag, along with a second bag, contained nearly 30 pounds of marijuana. The team also assisted with an SIU search warrant on September 23rd. After searching the residence in question, they searched a Jeep Cherokee parked in the driveway. K9 Cole alerted on 3 separate areas of the vehicle. These areas included the center console, and a backpack and cooler in the rear cargo area. Each location contained drug tainted money. The tainted money that was seized totaled $55,418.00. On September 6th, Cpl. Foraker & K9 Speed, from Troop 2, responded to assist Wilmington P.D. with the search of a vehicle. K9 Speed alerted at several locations along the driver’s side of the Mercedes Benz. Once inside the car, Speed alerted on the front floorboard area on the passenger’s side. A detailed search by detectives from WPD revealed a 17-gram bundle of cocaine in the front wheel well where Speed alerted. They also located a large hidden compartment in the passenger’s side floor. Cocaine residue was located in the compartment, leading detectives to believe that the occupants had just made a large delivery and were paid with the 17 grams found in the wheel well. Cpl. Little & K9 Yukon, assigned to Troop 4, assisted the DEA with a search warrant at a residence in Dover on May 20th. Yukon alerted on a handbag in the garage that contained 1 pound of marijuana. Yukon also alerted on a first floor office filing cabinet that also contained a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Several NDCTs responded to Laurel High School on November 7th. They searched the entire premises and all of the vehicles in the parking lot at the request of the school’s administration. Although no narcotics were found, the administration felt it sent an excellent message to the student body. As a unit, NDCTs conducted 146 searches and seized a total of 19,187 grams of marijuana, 207 grams of powder cocaine, 15 grams of crack, .16 grams of heroin, 2268 grams of methamphetamine and 5 oxycontin tablets. The street value of these narcotics is estimated at nearly $ 447,000.00. NDCTs also alerted on a total of $ 183,808.00 in drug-tainted currency.
Due to the ever-increasing threat of terrorist activity against mass transit and the Terrorist Threat Alert Level being upgraded to Orange for a period in the summer, the Canine Division’s Explosive Detection Canine Teams, EDCTs, were in constant demand. Teams conducted 3,882 searches in 2005 as compared to 231 in 2004. 3,353 of these searches were of vehicles at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal in July. DSP teams assisted canine teams from the New Jersey State Police and the Delaware River & Bay Authority with searching vehicles waiting in line at the terminal to board the ferry to New Jersey. This operation occurred during the heightened Orange Alert Level in July. Cpl. Fuski’s partner, K9 Dallas, from Troop 3, alerted on a Ford Explorer waiting in line on July 11th. The operator of the vehicle, upon being contacted by DRBA police, advised that he had fireworks in the cargo area of the vehicle. Simultaneously in July, DSP entered into a compact with numerous federal, state and municipal law enforcement agencies from Washington, D.C. to New York City called the Northeast Corridor Law Enforcement Coalition. The coalition was tasked with ensuring the safety of mass transit rail passengers on the east coast. EDCTs from DSP are assigned daily shifts at the Amtrak Rail Station in Wilmington and are responsible for searching the station, inbound and outbound trains, and the boarding platform for explosives. The training staff attended several planning meetings prior to the start of this mission and has overseen the scheduling of all DSP personnel. All of the explosive canine handlers trained by DSP attended a seminar hosted by the Amtrak Police Department on November 1st. The seminar took place at the Amtrak Maintenance Yard in Bear and focused on officer safety while working around trains and the train station. The second half of the session allowed each EDCT to conduct several searches of the many rail coaches located at the yard. Each handler was allowed to extensively explore the layout, design, and inherent dangers of the rail cars. All of DSP’s, Dover Police Department’s and Capital Police Department’s EDCTs were utilized to conduct searches at Dover Downs Raceway again this year. These searches occurred over a four-day period in June, for the Spring NASCAR events, and again in September for the Fall NASCAR race events. Capital Police Department’s EDCT also assisted DSP’s EDCTs with explosive sweeps during Governor Minner’s 2nd term Inauguration Events. These events took place from January 15-18. The Bank One Center in Wilmington, the Bay Center in Dewey Beach, and the Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center were swept for explosives prior to each event. Governor Minner also hosted a week long “Council on State Governments” Conference in December. Many out of state VIP’s and government leaders attended the conference. DSP EDCTs conducted explosive sweeps at each of the numerous venues utilized by the conference over the 5-day period. As a unit, the EDCTs conducted 3882 searches in 2005. In addition to the 3353 vehicle searches conducted, the remaining 529 searches included 10 schools, 514 businesses, 1 private residence, and 4 government buildings. EDCTs saved approximately 1,061 man-hours had the searches been conducted without canines.
The Canine Division recorded 67 criminal apprehensions in 2005. These apprehensions directly resulted in 78 felony and 310 misdemeanor charges being filed. Of the 67 apprehensions, only 13 occurred with bites, resulting in a Unit bite ratio of 19.4%. Almost two thirds of the 67 suspects apprehended in 2005 surrendered without further incident when the canine handler issued warnings that the canine would be utilized to apprehend them. In those circumstances, just the presence of the canine resulted in 37 arrest situations where not only the police officers chance of injury, but also the suspect’s chance of injury, was greatly reduced or eliminated completely.
On January 5th , Joseph Reed, who was armed with a handgun, robbed the CVS Pharmacy on Route 1 in Rehoboth. Tfc. Reynolds & K9 Okal, from Troop 7, conducted a track that led them to a residence in West Rehoboth. Upon interviewing several people inside the house, Joseph Reed was positively identified. The handgun, along with the stolen money, was recovered inside the house. Cpl./3 New & K9 Bard, assigned to Troop 9, responded to the Tremont Motel, in New Castle to assist DSP units in the search for John Dooling, who was wanted for the robbery of two area banks. Dooling’s room was located and the team made a quick entry with a passkey. Dooling surrendered upon observing K9 Bard about to be released. Tfc. Martin and her partner, K9 Tyfo, from Troop 3, were dispatched to assist at a home invasion robbery in Felton on August 20th. The defendant, Seymour McEachern, forced his way into a home at knifepoint and told the victim that he would return to rape and kill her. He fled in the victim’s vehicle. McEachern returned to the scene while Felton Police Department investigators were interviewing the victim. He abandoned the victim’s car and fled on foot. K9 Tyfo tracked McEachern to a nearby house under construction and alerted on the defendant hiding in the garage. The defendant surrendered without incident. Tfc. Horsman, also assigned to Troop 3, and his K9 partner Rex, were sent to investigate an indecent exposure complaint on October 9th. The 12-year-old female victim advised him that Roger Scarborough was standing across the street from her residence when he exposed himself and then urinated on the sidewalk. Tfc Horsman located the defendant nearby and he immediately fled on foot. K9 Rex apprehended him after a short chase. It was determined that the defendant was also high on crack cocaine and still had a small quantity in his pocket. While working at Troop 4 on October 8th , Cpl./1 Windsor & K9 Cezar conducted a track for Howard Wise. Wise had committed a strong-armed robbery on the streets of Millsboro and in his attempt to flee, assaulted an off-duty officer who intervened. K9 Cezar tracked Wise to the rear door of a nearby house. The frightened homeowner stated that no one fitting Wise’s description was inside but made motions indicating otherwise. Wise had been hiding behind the door. Upon hearing the K9 coming up the steps, Wise fled through the house and out the front door with the K9 team in pursuit. Cpl./1 Windsor radioed his location continuously, which allowed responding officer’s to cut off the defendants escape. Cpl. Elwood and K9 Dago, from Troop 3, assisted DNREC on November 18th . What began as a “suspicious vehicle” stop turned into a pursuit in which both occupants fled on foot. DNREC apprehended one of the occupants and K9 Dago tracked the other one, Edgar Smith. The track led behind several houses, through a field, and up to a shed where Smith was hiding. Smith surrendered upon hearing K9 Dago closing in. Further investigation revealed that both occupants of the vehicle had robbed the Super 8 Motel in Milford earlier in the day. On November 23rd, Cpl./1 Breslin & K9 Utchy, were pursuing a stolen Ford F150 pickup truck. The vehicle was boxed in and stopped by several Troop 2 units and two of the occupants fled on foot into a wooded area. The remaining occupant was hiding under clothing in the vehicle but surrendered upon hearing K9 Utchy barking. A track was then conducted and Utchy located the second occupant in the woods. The third suspect escaped but her clothing and identification were recovered on the track and she was later captured at her house. Cpl. Aguilar & K9 Bo, who are assigned to Troop 9, assisted Troop 6 units who were searching for a robbery suspect on December 5th. The defendant, Cam Herring, fled on foot from a business and into a nearby abandoned building. One trooper was injured during the chase. K9 Bo began searching the building and located the defendant hiding in the attic where he was taken into custody without incident.
In addition to the above-mentioned accomplishments, canine handlers, statewide, handled 7284 complaints and provided assistance to other troopers on 2733 occasions. The Division also assisted other agencies 477 times. Canine teams responded to 1382 alarms, conducted 198 building searches, and performed 176 tracks. The unit recorded a total of 5971 traffic arrests, 1700 criminal arrests, and 185 CPCs in 2005. The Canine Division also proved to be a valuable link between the State Police and the citizens of Delaware in the areas of public relations, mass-media relations and recruiting. Handlers conducted 148 demonstrations in 2005. Many were conducted at DSP Headquarters and included the Spring & Fall Job Fairs, the Citizens Police Academies, and Trooper Youth Week. State employees at DSP Headquarters, participating in the “Bring Your Kid to Work” program, also got to see a K9 demonstration. Numerous demonstrations were also conducted for tour groups at the request of the DSP Museum staff. These groups included students from Indian River High School and the Bear Area Home Schooling Association. The canine training staff, in conjunction with in-service canine training teams, conducted demonstrations for each “Project Impact” camping group at Camp Barnes over a 6-week period in the summer. Campers from Delaware’s Special Olympics also viewed a K9 demonstration at Camp Barnes on July 26th. Other demonstrations throughout the state included Boys & Girl Scout groups, school & church groups, and community group meetings. Two of the demonstrations that were conducted in 2005 benefited not only the observers but also the performers. On April 25th, the training staff along with their K9 partners and the newly trained Cpl./3 New & K9 Bard from Troop 9, responded to Edda J. Wilson Elementary School. The 3rd grade class, under the direction of teacher, Ms. Megan Grillo, raised $754.00. The money was raised through bake sales, home made lapel pin sales and other events throughout the school year. The money was donated to the Canine Division and was used to purchase a ballistic vest for a DSP canine. On August 25th, two middle school students from the Bear area, along with their parents, came to the K9 Training Facility in Dover. Following a demonstration, they presented the training staff with a check for $829.00. The students, Anna Richman and Shelby Guhl, raised the money by going door to door in their neighborhoods. That money was also used to purchase a new ballistic K9 vest. The Canine Division also made its share of media appearances during the year. Cpl. Fuski & K9 Dallas, while working the explosive search detail at the Fall Nascar Race at Dover Downs, were utilized for a “live shot” feature on NBC minutes before the start of the race. The team was used to enhance the explanation of Nascar’s “Lucky Dog Pass” race terminology. On November 3rd, Cpl./1 Windsor, his partner, K9 Cezar, and trainer, Cpl./3 Anderson assisted the DSP Human Resources Section. A film crew shot footage of a K9 track ending in an apprehension and a vehicle stop involving an assault on a trooper, also ending in a K9 apprehension. The footage was used on several local cable TV stations throughout the year to promote recruiting. Over a two-day period in July, a reporter from Out & About Magazine, a local monthly entertainment publication, responded to the training facility. He shadowed the trainers and conducted numerous interviews while observing and photographing the training. The Canine Division was then featured in a 5-page article in the August issue of the magazine. In addition to their regular duties, the training staff continued to serve on the State of Delaware’s Dangerous Dog Panel, which presided over numerous cases in 2005. DSP handlers also took advantage of training that was offered outside of DSP’s regularly scheduled sessions. Cpl./1 Huber & K9 Atom from Troop 1 and Cpl./1 Little & K9 Yukon from Troop 4, attended a 5-day training seminar in September, which was hosted by the City of Wilmington Police Department’s K9 section. The hands-on training seminar was instructed by Master trainers from the Eastern Police Canine Association.
