K-9 Program

 

      In 1982, the Scarborough Police Department instituted a K-9 program.  Lt. William Zackular started Scarborough ‘s first K-9 team.  It was comprised of himself and the first police service dog, “Charlie”.

     Years later, in 1985, Officer Joe Giacamantonio became Scarborough’s second K-9 handler.  The second K-9, Bandit, served the Town Of Scarborough for 8 years.  Bandit was trained in patrol and narcotics. 

     In 1994, Scarborough obtained its third patrol and narcotics K-9.  JAK, a German shepherd imported from Czechoslovakia, started his training with Sgt. Thomas Chard.  JAK served 8 years and is now retired, living with Sgt. Chard and his family.

     In 2002, a fourth team was brought onto the department.  Officer Mike Sawyer was selected to fill the spot.  Sgt. Chard obtained another German Shepherd from Holland named “Jasou”.  Officer Sawyer and Jasou completed their training and in July 2003, were certified in patrol work.  Jasou is now training to detect narcotic odors. Jasou was recently issued a bulletproof  vest. The vest was donated by Mr. Tom Griffin's Scarborough Middle School Class.

     In April 2003, thanks to the Working Dog Foundation, Sgt. Chard was able to obtain a replacement for JAK.  A black German shepherd named “Kino”, was imported from Germany .  Sgt. Chard and Kino began to train for patrol work.  In November 2003, Sgt. Chard and Kino were certified in patrol work.  Kino is now in training for narcotics detection. 

     Scarborough police K-9’s are “cross trained” in patrol and narcotics.  Patrol consists of tracking, building searches, article searches, obedience agility, criminal apprehension and handler protection.  Narcotics consists of the K-9 detecting the concealment of 7 narcotic odors. 

 

Tracking- The ability of the K-9 to search for lost persons or criminals.

Building searches- The utilization of a K-9 to detect a criminal hiding inside a building with the reduced risk to the handler and officers. 

Article searches- The ability of the K-9 to search for lost or discarded articles out in fields or woods.  This saves considerable time and preserves evidence of a crime. 

Obedience- The ability of the K-9 to be under voice and hand commands of the handler.

Agility- Assures that the K-9 will surmount obstacles out in the field.  The dog is taught to climb ladders, go through tunnels and jump over obstacles. 

Criminal apprehension- The canine is used to apprehend fleeing criminals with the use of minimal force necessary (bite). 

Handler protection- The canine is taught to protect the handler in a physical situation and to come to the handler’s aid in that situation. 

 

Narcotics detection- The canine is certified to locate narcotic odor concealed in buildings and vehicles.  The K-9 is certified to find 7 narcotic odors. 

 

         Each Scarborough canine is screened vigorously before being selected to be part of the Scarborough K-9 unit.  The K-9 is tested to make sure he/she is socially adaptable, has high drive and is healthy.  When final selection is made, the K-9 goes through final testing at the New Hampshire Police Canine Academy in Center Strafford New Hampshire http://www.workingdog.org. This assures that the K-9 will endure the long and strenuous life of a police K-9. K-9’s at the academy are trained under the guidelines set forth by the United States Police Canine Association: http://uspcak9.com. 

 

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